Thursday February 1, 8:59 am Eastern Time
Press Release
SOURCE: IMI International Medical Innovations
Inc.
IMI lung cancer test shows positive results in pilot
clinical trial
Results accepted for presentation at American Thoracic Society
meeting
TORONTO, Feb. 1 /PRNewswire/ - IMI International Medical Innovations Inc.
(TSE:IMI - news) today announced that the results of a pilot clinical trial
involving its novel lung cancer screening test were positive. The trial was
designed to determine whether the IMI test could identify patients with lung
cancer out of a group that also included people with no disease and other benign
lung diseases.
IMI's product, called LungAlert(TM), is a non-invasive test that identifies a cancer
marker in sputum. Like other IMI products, LungAlert uses chemicals to generate
a colour-change reaction that is measured using a hand- held spectrophotometer.
``This non-invasive approach has potential as a screening test for lung cancer,''
said Dr. Gerard Cox, a respirologist at St. Joseph's Hospital - McMaster University
in Hamilton, Ontario, who conducted the study. Lung cancer continues to be a
leading cause of death among both men and women because it is usually detected
too late for surgery to be effective. ``There is a real need for an effective
screening test for lung cancer because there are no effective screening tests
currently available. A test like this could fill a major medical gap,'' said Dr. John
Miller, Head of Thoracic Surgery at St. Joseph's Hospital - McMaster University,
and a co-investigator in the trial.
Data to be presented at world's largest lung-disease meeting
The results of the clinical trial have been accepted by a peer-review panel to be
presented at this year's American Thoracic Society (ATS) meeting. With more
than 15,000 delegates expected, the ATS meeting is one of the largest forums in
the world for doctors to discuss medical advances in lung diseases. Dr. Cox will
present the clinical data at the meeting in San Francisco on May 21.
Following on the positive results from the initial study involving 76 patients, IMI
is developing a larger, prospective 500-patient trial to confirm and extend the
effectiveness of the LungAlert test. The proposed trial will be conducted at the
Firestone Institute for Respiratory Health, St. Joseph's Hospital and is expected to
begin this spring.
``Lung cancer is a strategic market for IMI because it fits within our focus of
developing rapid, non-invasive tests that detect life-threatening diseases at the
earliest stage,'' said Dr. Brent Norton, President and CEO of IMI. ``Combined
with our colorectal cancer product -- ColorectAlert(TM) -- and our urine-based
prostate cancer test, we are building a strong predictive medicine franchise in
cancer.''
``At the same time, we continue to make progress in our other principal area of
cardiovascular disease. Our lead product, Cholesterol 1,2,3(TM), received Health
Canada clearance earlier this week,'' added Dr. Norton. Cholesterol 1,2,3 is a
rapid, non-invasive test that measures cholesterol in the skin (on the palm of the
hand) without requiring a blood sample.
Lung cancer was responsible for approximately 17,700 deaths in Canada in 2000,
and 156,900 deaths in the U.S., accounting for approximately 28 per cent of all
cancer deaths. Lung cancer has one of the highest fatality rates of all cancers,
partly because there is no effective way to screen people and identify the cancer at
a stage when it can be treated successfully.
IMI is a world leader in predictive medicine. The Company is dedicated to
developing rapid and non-invasive products for the early detection of life-
threatening diseases, particularly cardiovascular disease and cancer. IMI's head
office is in Toronto, and its product development activities are based at McMaster
University in Hamilton, Ontario. Common shares trade on The Toronto Stock
Exchange (symbol IMI).
This release contains forward-looking statements that reflect the company's
current expectation regarding future events. The forward-looking statements
involve risk and uncertainties. Actual events could differ materially from those
projected herein and depend on a number of factors including, but not limited to,
changing market conditions, successful and timely completion of clinical studies,
uncertainties related to the regulatory approval process, establishment of corporate
alliances and other risks detailed from time to time in the company's filings.
SOURCE: IMI International Medical Innovations Inc.
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