A new NHS Cancer Programme-funded pilot is bringing a sponge on a string
test to high-street pharmacies for the first time, allowing patients with persistent heartburn to be checked for a precursor to oesophageal cancer. Across parts of the East Midlands and London, 12 pharmacies are offering the EndoSign capsule sponge test, according to local integrated care boards.
UK Pharmacies Launch Sponge-on-a-String Pilot to Detect Precancerous Oesophagus
The pilot targets individuals who experience persistent heartburn or acid reflux and frequently rely on over-the-counter medications without seeking help from a general practitioner.
How the EndoSign Capsule Sponge Test Works
During the procedure, a patient swallows a small capsule attached to a strong, thin thread. Once inside the stomach, the capsule dissolves to release a small sponge that expands. The pharmacist then gently pulls the device back out using the attached thread, allowing it to collect cells from the lining of the oesophagus.
The gathered cell samples are sent for laboratory testing to identify cellular changes associated with Barrett’s oesophagus, a precancerous condition caused when stomach acid damages the food pipe lining. If the test detects potential concerns, patients are referred for further investigation via an endoscopy. For patients with negative results, the test provides reassurance while helping avoid invasive procedures. If pre-cancerous cells are identified, treatments such as endoscopy or radiofrequency ablation can be offered.
Early Pilot Results in the East Midlands and London
The regional rollout began in north-central London across seven pharmacies, followed by an East Midlands launch involving five pharmacy sites. The East Midlands pilot runs until March 2027 and is available to people aged 45 and older who live near Nottingham, Derby, Kirkby-in-Ashfield, or Mansfield.
Early data from the East Midlands shows that 79 patients have already been tested, with 25 of those participants subsequently referred for further endoscopic investigation. Participating locations include:
* Boots Nottingham Victoria Centre (Nottingham) * Boots Derby Derbion Shopping Centre (Derby) * Well Pharmacy at Crown Medical Centre (Mansfield) * Oakwood Pharmacy (Mansfield Woodhouse) * Affinity Pharmacy (Annesley Woodhouse, Kirkby-in-Ashfield)
Stakes, Funding, and Expert Perspective
Oesophageal cancer remains one of the deadliest forms of the disease. Of nearly 10,000 patients diagnosed with oesophageal cancer annually in the UK, 80% are diagnosed at a late stage, and only one in five survives past a year. Risk factors include poor diet, smoking, alcohol consumption, obesity, and hiatus hernias, with the disease appearing more frequently in older people and men.
The pharmacy-based testing initiative is one of seven innovative projects backed by a £15 million investment from the NHS Cancer Programme’s Innovation Open Call, supported by SBRI Healthcare and the Accelerated Access Collaborative.
NHS national cancer director Prof Peter Johnson noted that the project brings convenient testing directly to shopping areas. Conor Corbett, community and primary care pharmacy co-chair for the British Oncology Pharmacy Association, stated that the initiative represents an important addition to community healthcare services by increasing early case-finding for conditions whose symptoms are frequently dismissed as simple indigestion.
