加拿大拿到试验最新肝癌监测化验-glypican 3 (GPC3)

liver411

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[B]BioMosaics Licenses Novel Diagnostic Test for Primary Liver Cancer from Toronto Hospital[/B]

    BURLINGTON, Vt., Nov. 25 /PRNewswire/ -- BioMosaics Inc. announced today that it has licensed a novel diagnostic test for primary liver cancer also known as epatocellular carcinoma (HCC) -- a technology developed in the laboratory of Dr. Jorge Filmus, of Sunnybrook and Women''''s College Health Sciences Centre, Toronto, Canada.

    "We are excited about the opportunity to advance this technology for the early diagnosis of HCC," said Dr. Mark Allegretta, President and CSO of BioMosaics.  "Early detection will be instrumental for the development of improved therapeutics for this devastating disease."

    The University of Toronto Innovations Foundation represented Sunnybrook &
Women''''s in effecting the licensing agreement.  The agreement covers exclusive,
worldwide rights to a diagnostic test system to detect primary liver cancer (HCC), using a unique monoclonal antibody to glypican 3 (GPC3), known to have
increased expression in HCC, and shown to be detectable in tissue specimens
and serum.

    Based on the work of Filmus and his team [Gastroenterology. 2003 Jul; 125(1):89-97], the diagnostic test was positive in the HCC patients, and was, with only one exception, not positive in normal subjects or high-risk patients without liver cancer.  The study suggests the test could be more specific than the currently used blood test, which measures serum alpha-fetoprotein.

    Glypican 3 is a glycophosphatidyl inositol (GPI)-linked membrane-associated heparan sulfate binding molecule involved in fetal development and organogenesis which is over-expressed on the surface of HCC cells. It is present in increased amounts in the circulation of patients with HCC.

    Hepatocellular carcinoma is one of the most common and aggressive malignant tumors worldwide, causing an estimated one million deaths annually.Over 430,000 new cases of HCC are diagnosed each year.  One of the largest at-risk populations is hepatitis C carriers.  The incidence of HCC has been steadily increasing over the past ten years and is expected to continue to rise over the next decade.

    HCC is a cancer with a survival of less than one year using current detection methods.  The only curative treatment available is surgical resection, which is successful only if done early in disease.  By implementing an early diagnostic test such as the detection of GPC3, it may be possible to improve clinical outcomes through screening and therapeutic monitoring.

    About BioMosaics
    BioMosaics is a biotechnology company located in Burlington VT engaged in
the development and commercialization of innovative products for the early diagnosis, prediction, monitoring and treatment of cancer and autoimmune disease.  For more information about BioMosaics, visit: http://www.biomosaics.com.

    Sunnybrook and Women''''s College Health Sciences Centre
    Sunnybrook and Women''''s College Health Sciences Centre is transforming health care through the dedication of its more than 8,000 staff members who provide compassionate and innovative patient focused care. An internationally recognized leader in women''''s health, academic research and education and an affiliation with the University of Toronto distinguishes Sunnybrook & Women''''s as one of Canada''''s premier health sciences centres. Sunnybrook & Women''''s specializes in caring for newborns, adults and the elderly, treating and preventing cancer, heart problems, orthopaedic and arthritic conditions and traumatic injuries.  For more information about Sunnybrook, visit:
http://www.sunnybrookandwomens.on.ca.

    About the University of Toronto Innovations Foundation
    The University of Toronto Innovations Foundation''''s (UTIF) goal is to maximize the impact of the more than $2 million expended every day on research at Canada''''s leading university and the associated institutions. The Innovations Foundation was founded in 1980 to help researchers capitalize on unique opportunities in a variety of technologies.  UTIF is a leader in the field of technology commercialization.  For more information about the Innovations Foundation, visit: http://www.innovationsfoundation.com.

    Contacts:
     BioMosaics
     Mark Allegretta PhD    or     Ronald D. Guttmann MD
     [email protected]           [email protected]

     Sunnybrook and Women''''s College Health Sciences Centre
     Fiona Taylor
     [email protected]

     University of Toronto Innovations Foundation
     Vigen Nazarian MSc
     [email protected]

    Note:  Statements in this news release, that are not historical facts, are "forward-looking statements" within the meaning given to that term in the Private Securities Litigation Reform Act of 1995. The company intends that such forward-looking statements be subject to the safe harbors created thereby. Since these statements involve risks and uncertainties and are subject to change at any time, the company''''s actual results could differ materially from expected results.



SOURCE BioMosaics Inc.
Web Site: http://www.biomosaics.com

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[此贴子已经被作者于2003-11-27 3:55:43编辑过]