DiaGenic Announces Preliminary Results From A Multicentre Breast Cancer Study In India

Main Category: Breast Cancer
Also Included In: Cancer / Oncology;  Women's Health / Gynecology
Article Date: 06 Feb 2008 - 4:00 PDT

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DiaGenic ASA presented preliminary results at The Federation of Obstetrics and Gynecology Societies of India (F.O.G.S.I ) annual meeting in New Delhi from the study it is conducting in India using its early breast cancer gene expression blood test. The results from the first 113 patients show that the gene expression signature, previously identified in Scandinavian and US cohorts, shows good diagnostic performance in an Indian population. Preliminary data shows similar levels of accuracy obtained with the European/US cohorts as for the Indian cohort. DiaGenic now aims to complete the study of 720 subjects in the next few months and is in dialogue with local partners to market the test in India.

The DiaGenic breast cancer blood test offers a unique range of advantages over existing methods. Firstly, the use of venous blood as the test-sample is patient friendly. The test also detects breast cancer in pre-menopausal women with good accuracy whereas mammography has major problems due to high breast density which obscures the mammographic image. This is especially important in India, where breast cancer is seen at a significantly lower age than in Western countries. Finally, the disease can be discovered at a very early stage, thus paving the way for effective intervention.

One of the key investigators in the trial, Dr Yathish Kumar, Panacea Hospitals Pvt. Ltd, Bangalore, welcomed the initial results, explaining that there is a major need for an early blood test in India: "Currently, survival rates for breast cancer are low in India and there is not an effective screening programme. Furthermore, Indian women tend to have denser breast tissue and to suffer from the disease earlier than in the West. Using blood as the sample material and being able to screen earlier is thus an extremely attractive proposition and would enable us to start tackling the problem effectively."

DiaGenic CEO Erik Christensen commented: " This study demonstrates that there is no ethnic variability in the gene expression signature that impacts the diagnostic performance. Working with an excellent CRO and service laboratory, we have been able to both recruit patients from right across the Indian subcontinent and to successfully transfer the testing procedure to an Indian laboratory. These initial results give us the confidence to prepare for making the test commercially available through a local partner in India."

About DiaGenic ASA

DiaGenic is an innovative Norwegian biotechnology company that seeks to create value for patients, partners, and investors by developing new and more patient friendly methods for early detection of diseases. DiaGenic is currently a world leader in analyzing gene expression signatures related to disease in easily available clinical samples such as peripheral blood. This unique method is based on the principle that even when a disease is localized at a specific part of the body, secondary responses, which are also characteristic of the disease, can be measured in other parts. Significant potential in numerous diseases such as breast cancer, Alzheimer's and Parkinson's disease has been identified. The company has been granted patents in the U.S. and Europe. DiaGenic is listed on the Oslo Stock Exchange.

http://www.diagenic.com