Pacific Edge secures patent for colorectal cancer detection technology

Wednesday 23rd June 2010

Pacific Edge Biotechnology has been awarded a New Zealand patent for its colorectal cancer prognostic technology.

The Dunedin-based company expects more late stage patents to be awarded in other targeted countries in the next two years for the technology, which enables the detection of aggressive cancer in patients already diagnosed with colorectal cancer.

The prognostic test enables physicians to predict colorectal cancer progression and provide patients with more specific treatment following surgery, said Pacific Edge's chief executive David Darling. The colorectal cancer prognostic gene signature is the company's second commercial product, joining its recently launched bladder detection test, Cxbladder.

Pacific Edge has developed a gene expression database from a range of human tumours which, along with a patient's clinical data, forms the discovery platform for diagnostic and prognostic biomarkers. Colorectal cancer is the fourth most common cancer, and in 2007 there were 1 million cases diagnosed worldwide with 520,000 dying of the disease.

Pacific Edge recently completed successful European clinical trials of the prognostic gene signature for colorectal cancer, demonstrating the technology's use in distinguishing between high and low risk patients.

"The early detection of those patients with an aggressive disease is a significant medical breakthrough," Darling said. "The Pacific Edge prognostic gene signature will provide clinicians with a valuable tool to help identify those patients at greatest risk, who will then be able to be targeted for adjuvant chemotherapy in addition to surgery."

Pacific Edge shares have gained one cent today to $0.24.

Businesswire.co.nz

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