NAMUR, Belgium, Oct. 11,
2016 /PRNewswire/ -- VolitionRx Limited (NYSE MKT: VNRX), a
life sciences company focused on developing diagnostic tests for
cancer, today announced that research presented at the European
Society for Medical Oncology Congress (ESMO) shows that Volition's
novel blood test for colorectal cancer combined with the
conventional faecal immunochemical screening test has the potential
to offer up to a 25% reduction in colonoscopies while maintaining
almost 97% detection of colorectal cancer when combined with the
faecal immunochemical test (FIT) score.
Dr. Marielle Herzog, Volition's
lead scientist for Nucleosomics®, presented a poster on
the results from the first 2000 of the 8000 FIT positive patients
in this study. This prospective screening study, conducted in
conjunction with Hvidovre Hospital, University
of Copenhagen, aims to discover the ability of the
Nu.QTM Colorectal Cancer Screening Triage Test (blood
test) to identify patients with a false positive on their FIT, in
order to reduce the total number of colonoscopy referrals.
Less than 10% of people with a positive FIT score have
colorectal cancer; a positive FIT score is not a diagnostic for
cancer but means simply that blood has been found in the stool.
This means that there are a significant number of unnecessary,
expensive and invasive colonoscopies performed, placing a burden on
both the patient and healthcare system. The combination of FIT test
and the Nu.QTM Triage Test in the study identified
nearly 97% of colorectal cancers in FIT positive subjects. By
utilizing this regimen, screening programs could reduce the number
of unnecessary colonoscopies performed and more importantly, for
the same number of colonoscopies potentially increase screening
subject throughput by up to 33%, which could result in a net
increase in total CRC cases detected by up to 29%. Please note
that the Poster and Presentation from ESMO are available in the
Technology section of the Volition website.
Currently in Denmark, around
20,000 people have a positive faecal test for colorectal cancer
each year. All of them are referred for a colonoscopy, however,
statistics demonstrate that only approximately 1,000 of them have
cancer and require urgent diagnosis.
The lead author of the study, Dr. Marielle Herzog, commented: "False positives add
to an already long waiting list and delays diagnosis for patients
who have cancer and need swift treatment. By undertaking this
simple, cost effective blood test in people with a positive faecal
test, we can help prevent unneeded referrals for colonoscopy with a
small reduction in cancer detection and potentially reduce the
colonoscopy waiting time for those at high risk of cancer."
Volition plans initially to focus the launch of its
Nu.QTM Colorectal Cancer Screening Triage Test in the EU
member states, which have an aggregate screening age population of
approximately 148 million patients. There are organized
colorectal cancer screening programs in 14 of the 28 EU states with
a further 10 states offering some form of public or privately
accessible screening.
Louise Day, Chief Marketing and
Communications Officer said, "The introduction of Nu.QTM
to help physicians decide whether patients need to go on to have a
colonoscopy has the potential to significantly alleviate some of
the capacity pressures within healthcare systems. Our hope is that
more people will be able to be screened and more colorectal cancer
cases identified early. The poster presented at ESMO this week has
generated a lot of interest and discussion. We expect to receive CE
Marking for this test later this year and aim to market it
throughout Europe in 2017."
About Volition
Volition is a life sciences company focused on developing
diagnostic tests for cancer. The tests are based on the science of
Nucleosomics®, which is the practice of identifying and
measuring nucleosomes in the bloodstream or other bodily fluid – an
indication that disease is present.
Volition's goal is to make the tests as easy and simple to use,
for both patients and doctors, as existing diabetic and cholesterol
blood tests. Volition's research and development activities are
currently centered in Belgium as
the company focuses on bringing its diagnostic products to market
first in Europe, then in the U.S.
and ultimately, worldwide.
For more information about Volition, visit Volition's website
(http://www.volitionrx.com) or connect with us via:
Twitter: https://twitter.com/volitionrx
LinkedIn: https://www.linkedin.com/company/volitionrx
Facebook: https://www.facebook.com/VolitionRx/
YouTube: https://www.youtube.com/user/VolitionRx
The contents found at Volition's website address, Twitter,
LinkedIn, Facebook, and YouTube are not incorporated by reference
into this document and should not be considered part of this
document. The addresses for Volition's website, Twitter,
LinkedIn, Facebook, and YouTube are included in this document as
inactive textual references only.
Media / Investor Contacts
Louise Day,
Volition
L.day@volitionrx.com
+44 (0)7557
774620
|
Scott Powell,
Volition
S.powell@volitionrx.com
+1 (646) 650
1351
|
Tirth Patel,
Edison Advisors
tpatel@edisongroup.com
+1 (646) 653
7035
|
Rachel Carroll,
Edison Advisors
rcarroll@edisongroup.com
+44 (0)20 3077
5711
|
Sarah Roberts,
Vane Percy & Roberts
sarah@vanepercy.com
+44 (0)1737 821
890
|
|
Safe Harbor Statement
Statements in this press release may be "forward-looking
statements" within the meaning of Section 27A of the Securities Act
of 1933, as amended, and Section 21E of the Securities Exchange Act
of 1934, as amended, that concern matters that involve risks and
uncertainties that could cause actual results to differ materially
from those anticipated or projected in the forward-looking
statements. Words such as "expects," "anticipates," "intends,"
"plans," "aims," "targets," "believes," "seeks," "estimates,"
"optimizing," "potential," "goal," "suggests," "could," "would,"
"should," "may," "will" and similar expressions identify
forward-looking statements. These forward-looking statements relate
to the effectiveness of the Company's bodily-fluid-based diagnostic
tests as well as the Company's ability to develop and successfully
commercialize such test platforms for early detection of cancer.
The Company's actual results may differ materially from those
indicated in these forward-looking statements due to numerous risks
and uncertainties. For instance, if we fail to develop and
commercialize diagnostic products, we may be unable to execute our
plan of operations. Other risks and uncertainties include the
Company's failure to obtain necessary regulatory clearances or
approvals to distribute and market future products in the clinical
IVD market; a failure by the marketplace to accept the products in
the Company's development pipeline or any other diagnostic products
the Company might develop; the Company will face fierce competition
and the Company's intended products may become obsolete due to the
highly competitive nature of the diagnostics market and its rapid
technological change; and other risks identified in the Company's
most recent Annual Report on Form 10-K and Quarterly Reports on
Form 10-Q, as well as other documents that the Company files with
the Securities and Exchange Commission. These statements are based
on current expectations, estimates and projections about the
Company's business based, in part, on assumptions made by
management. These statements are not guarantees of future
performance and involve risks, uncertainties and assumptions that
are difficult to predict. Forward-looking statements are made as of
the date of this release, and, except as required by law, the
Company does not undertake an obligation to update its
forward-looking statements to reflect future events or
circumstances.
Nucleosomics®, NuQ® and HyperGenomics® and their respective
logos are trademarks and/or service marks of VolitionRx Limited and
its subsidiaries. All other trademarks, service marks and trade
names referred to in this press release are the property of their
respective owners.
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SOURCE VolitionRx Ltd