Biomoda put out a News Release today on PR Newswire...
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Testing Begins on New Test for Early Detection of Lung Cancer
ALBUQUERQUE, N.M., Aug. 11 /PRNewswire/ -- A new test called TCPP, which may provide lung cancer detection 5 to 7 years earlier than current diagnosis tools, will begin final human trials this month.
BioModa Inc. has contracted with LungCheck Inc. to perform process optimization work on the TCPP test. LungCheck will also conduct a cytopathology study utilizing BioModa's world wide patented technology, expecting to complete the study at the end of September 1998.
Ninety percent of lung cancer victims are smokers and each day 471 people are diagnosed with the disease. Each day, 420 lung cancer victims die from the disease, a survival rate of 15%.
Early detection of the disease would raise the survival rate of these people to 85%, but current tests cannot detect the disease early enough. However, a new test called TCPP, will allow doctors to detect lung cancer 5 to 7 years earlier than current medical tests allow.
"We set out to increase the survival rate of patients with lung cancer, by detecting the disease early," states BioModa's Chief Technical Officer, Jeff Garwin, M.D., Ph.D. "This new technology will not only provide early detection but may also provide a more efficient method for the treatment of lung cancer."
The TCPP test is based on a research work done by Dr. Edward Ellinwood. His work involved the attaching of a radioactive atom to commonly occurring molecules in the human body called porphyrins. These radioactive porphyrins will find and attach themselves to lung cancer cells. With this "cancer detector," doctors can locate lung cancer cells in the patients body.
"In 1995, our company created a licensing partnership with Los Alamos National Laboratory in New Mexico. Los Alamos had discovered the usefulness of TCPP for implementing Dr. Ellinwood's ideas for detecting cancer early. Since our creation of this test, we have found a possible bridge for treating the lung cancer cells. This technology may allow us to target specific cells for destruction without damaging the surrounding cells in the patient's body."
SOURCE BioModa Inc.
CO: BioModa Inc.; LungCheck Inc.
ST: New Mexico, Pennsylvania
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