National Cancer Institute Funds Second Year of Grant to Guided Therapeutics to Commercialize Non-invasive Cervical Cancer Detection Device
August 24, 2010 13:05 UTC
Guided Therapeutics, Inc. (GT) (OTCBB: GTHP) today announced that it was awarded $1.0 million to fund the second year of a $2.5 million grant from the National Cancer Institute (NCI) announced in 2009.
The three-year grant provides additional resources to commercialize and bring to market the LightTouch™ non-invasive cervical cancer detection device and single-patient-use disposable.
“The continuation of the grant provides additional non-dilutive resources for us to complete the regulatory process, include design enhancements and begin manufacturing LightTouch devices and disposables,” said Mark L. Faupel, Ph.D., President and CEO of GT. “We believe that the award continuation also indicates a high level of confidence in our technology by the NCI reviewers.”
GT has been awarded approximately $6 million in six consecutive grants from the NCI to develop the new, pain-free test for detecting cervical disease.
The GT LightTouch technology scans the cervix with light to identify cancer and pre-cancer painlessly and non-invasively. The technology distinguishes between normal and diseased tissue, by detecting biochemical and morphological changes at the cellular level. Unlike Pap or HPV tests, the LightTouch test does not require a tissue sample or laboratory analysis, and is designed to provide results immediately. The technology is designed as a device employing a single-use disposable patient interface.
Results of a multi-center pivotal clinical trial showed that LightTouch detected cervical disease up to two years earlier than Pap test, HPV test, colposcopy and biopsy. The LightTouch is designed to detect disease early, when treatment is most effective, and to eliminate unnecessary testing saving the healthcare system money. For more information on the clinical trial, visit www.guidedinc.com/asccp2010.htm.
About Guided Therapeutics
Guided Therapeutics, Inc. (OTCBB: GTHP) is developing a rapid and painless test for the early detection of disease that leads to cervical cancer. The technology is designed to provide an objective result at the point of care, thereby improving the management of cervical disease. Unlike Pap and HPV tests, the device does not require a painful tissue sample and results are known immediately. GT has also entered into a partnership with Konica Minolta Opto to develop a non-invasive test for Barrett’s Esophagus using the LightTouch technology platform. For more information, visit GT’s web site www.guidedinc.com.
The Guided Therapeutics LightTouch™ Non-invasive Cervical Cancer Detection Device is an investigational device and is limited by federal law to investigational use.
The project described was supported by Award Number R44CA110149 from the National Cancer Institute. The content is solely the responsibility of the authors and does not necessarily represent the official views of the National Cancer Institute or the National Institutes of Health. |
