On October 31, 2018 Epigenomics AG (FSE: ECX, OTCQX: EPGNY) reported the Veterans Administration New York Harbor Healthcare System (VA-Manhattan) is commencing a study to assess the adherence impact of offering a blood-based colorectal cancer screening test and colonoscopy completion in patients who have refused colonoscopy and fecal immunochemical test (FIT) (Press release, Epigenomics, OCT 31, 2018, View Source [SID1234530405]).
Schedule your 30 min Free 1stOncology Demo!
Discover why more than 1,500 members use 1stOncology™ to excel in:
Early/Late Stage Pipeline Development - Target Scouting - Clinical Biomarkers - Indication Selection & Expansion - BD&L Contacts - Conference Reports - Combinatorial Drug Settings - Companion Diagnostics - Drug Repositioning - First-in-class Analysis - Competitive Analysis - Deals & Licensing
Schedule Your 30 min Free Demo!
The VA-Manhattan has received grants from the American Society for Gastrointestinal Endoscopy (ASGE) and New York Society for Gastrointestinal Endoscopy (NYSGE) to assist in the performance of this study. The study will be managed through The Narrows Institute. Epigenomics will provide testing and budgetary support for testing.
Colorectal cancer (CRC) is the fourth most common cancer and the second deadliest cancer in the US. However, CRC is a preventable condition with screening being one of the most impactful public health contributions to prevention. Screening rates are suboptimal due to patient barriers to colonoscopy or stool-based testing. Unscreened patients contribute to approximately 43% of new CRC cases, 70% of CRC deaths, and 76% of CRC treatment expenditures.
The goal of the VA-Manhattan study is to assess the potential of a blood-based test as an acceptable alternative for these screen-resistant individuals. If the proposed study shows high acceptance of the blood test as well as reliable colonoscopy follow up for positive tests, then the blood test could play an important adjunctive role in improving overall screening rates.
"Some people simply don’t want colonoscopy or stool-based colorectal cancer screening, so we need to understand how effective alternative methods such as a blood-based test are at engaging these individuals," said Dr. Peter Liang, the study principal investigator and a gastroenterologist at the VA-Manhattan.
"Unscreened patients contribute significantly to new CRC cases, deaths, and treatment costs," said Greg Hamilton, CEO of Epigenomics AG. "Addressing the unscreened challenge with a blood test could unquestionably have an impact to colorectal cancer management. We look forward to the study outcomes as they have the potential to support the use of a blood test on screening-resistant patients."