Well, I guess they are trying to put something out to soften the FDA news. Wish they had done this before the bad stuff.
******
Researchers Present Preclinical Feasibility Study for Matritech's NMP179
as a Cervical Cancer Tumor Marker at American Society of Clinical
Oncology (ASCO)
(Copyright (c) 1998, PR Newswire)
NEWTON, Mass., May 20 /PRNewswire/ -- Matritech, Inc. (Nasdaq: NMPS)
announced today that data from a preclinical evaluation of NMP179 demonstrate
its ability to detect pre-cancerous cervical abnormalities with a high degree
accuracy. The study was presented at the American Society of Clinical
Oncology Conference (ASCO) meeting in Los Angeles. NMP179 is one of a series
of diagnostic products based on Matritech's proprietary technology, which
correlates the level of nuclear matrix proteins (NMPs) in body fluids to the
presence of cancer.
"The high levels of sensitivity recorded by NMP179 in this study and in
previous preclinical studies are a further indication that NMP179 may provide
physicians with an important tool for detecting early stage cervical
abnormalities," said Dr. Susan Keesee, Manager, Cell Biology at Matritech and
investigator on the study. "Although the Pap smear has long been considered
the standard for detecting cervical cancer, there are significant limitations
involved with tests which rely on visual interpretation. As a biochemical
marker, NMP179 has the potential to overcome many of these limitations and
provide an accurate and early diagnosis of patients who may not yet exhibit
visible abnormalities in cervical tissue samples."
The blinded, preclinical study presented at ASCO was conducted in
collaboration with Brigham and Women's Hospital, Boston, and Women and Infants
Hospital, Providence. In the study, researchers qualitatively assessed the
ability of the monoclonal antibody, NMP179, to recognize a nuclear matrix
protein (NMP) associated with cervical carcinoma in 212 cervical tissue
specimens. The results of the study indicated that NMP179 detected 100% of
precancerous high grade or advanced cervical dysplasia and 76.7% of
precancerous low grade or early stage cervical dysplasia.
The American Cancer Society estimates that 13,700 new cases of cervical
cancer will be diagnosed in the United States during 1998. Although cervical
cancer is one of the most treatable forms of cancer if detected early,
approximately 4,900 individuals will die of the disease in the U.S. this year alone. The Pap smear has been the standard diagnostic test for the detection
of cervical cancer since 1943.
Matritech, Inc., based in Newton, Mass., is using its proprietary nuclear
matrix protein (NMP) technology, discovered at the Massachusetts Institute of
Technology (MIT) and licensed exclusively to Matritech, to develop and
commercialize innovative serum-, cell-, and urine-based NMP diagnostics that
enable physicians to reliably detect and monitor the presence of bladder,
colon, cervical, breast, and prostate cancers. The Company's lead product,
the NMP22(R) Test Kit for the management of bladder cancer patients, was
approved for sale by the Food and Drug Administration (FDA) in 1996.
Except for historical information contained herein, the matters discussed in
this news release are forward-looking statements that are subject to risks and
uncertainties. Potential risks and uncertainties include, without limitation,
risks related to the Company's ability to: successfully develop, test,
produce, and market its products; obtain necessary government approvals in a
timely manner; attract and keep key employees; raise capital for future
operations and growth; and successfully respond to technological changes in
the marketplace. Additional information on potential factors which could affect the Company's financial results are included in the Company's public
filings with the Securities and Exchange Commission.
/CONTACT: Stephen D. Chubb, CEO, or Susan Keesee, Scientific Officer of
Matritech, Inc., 617-928-0820 or Derek Caldwell of Sunrise Financial
Group, 212-421-1616 or Gretchen L. P. Schweitzer or Julia Rutherford of
Feinstein Kean Partners, 617-577-8110/
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