First esophageal precancer detection event
utilizing an EsoGuard mobile test unit to be hosted today by
Florida Digestive Health Specialists in Sarasota, Florida
NEW
YORK, June 5, 2023 /PRNewswire/ -- Lucid
Diagnostics Inc. (Nasdaq: LUCD) ("Lucid Diagnostics" or "Lucid"), a
commercial-stage cancer prevention diagnostics company and a
majority-owned subsidiary of PAVmed Inc. (Nasdaq: PAVM, PAVMZ),
today announced the launch of its first EsoGuard®
#CheckYourFoodTube Mobile Test Unit serving patients and practices
in the Greater Central Florida area. Florida Digestive Health
Specialists ("FDHS"), Florida's
largest gastroenterology network, will co-host the inaugural
precancer detection event at the Gastroenterology Associates of
Sarasota offices in Sarasota, Florida under the direction of Dr.
Scott Corbett, Chief of
Gastroenterology at Sarasota Memorial Hospital.
"This expansion into mobile testing is yet another example of
our relentless commitment to bringing EsoGuard testing to at-risk
patients in order to detect precancer and prevent devastating
esophageal cancer," said Lishan
Aklog, M.D., Lucid's Chairman & Chief Executive Officer.
"We believe that mobile testing will strongly complement our
satellite Lucid Test Center and high-volume precancer detection
event programs. With these programs, we seek to expand patient
access and drive EsoGuard test volume growth by lowering barriers
and bringing testing directly to patients who are recommended for
esophageal precancer testing by established clinical practice
guidelines. We greatly appreciate the efforts of healthcare
providers like Dr. Corbett and his colleagues at FDHS for
supporting this important initiative."
EsoGuard is the first and only commercially available diagnostic
test capable of serving as a widespread tool to prevent cancer and
cancer deaths through early detection of esophageal precancer in
at-risk individuals. During the testing event, at-risk patients
will undergo a brief, noninvasive cell collection procedure
performed by Lucid personnel in the mobile unit using the
EsoCheck® Esophageal Cell Collection Device. Samples
will then be sent to Lucid's dedicated CLIA-certified,
CAP-accredited molecular diagnostic laboratory in Lake Forest, California, where the EsoGuard
Esophageal DNA Test will be performed. Shortly thereafter, patients
with a positive EsoGuard result will be recommended for appropriate
monitoring and treatment, as indicated by their physician and
clinical practice guidelines, to prevent progression to esophageal
cancer.
"We are thrilled to continue our partnership with Lucid,
particularly with the launch of this inaugural program, which will
expand access to this potentially lifesaving diagnostic to even
more Floridians," said Dr. Corbett. "A recent study presented by
the University of Florida showed a
distressing shift in the age of onset for esophageal cancer toward
45-to-60-year-old patients in our state. With a median age of 49,
this statistic, combined with the prevalence of other related risk
factors in our area, makes the Sarasota area specifically, and other
Florida communities like it, a
logical place to begin identifying at-risk patients."
Millions of patients with GERD are at risk of developing
esophageal precancer and a highly lethal form of esophageal cancer
("EAC"). Over 80 percent of EAC patients die within five years of
diagnosis, making it the second most lethal cancer in the U.S. The
mortality rate is staggering even in those diagnosed with early
stage EAC. The U.S. incidence of EAC has increased 500 percent over
the past four decades, while the incidences of other common cancers
have declined or remained flat. In nearly all cases, EAC silently
progresses until it manifests itself with new symptoms of advanced
disease. All EAC is believed to arise from esophageal precancer,
which occurs in approximately 5 percent to 15 percent of at-risk
GERD patients. Early esophageal precancer can be monitored for
progression to late esophageal precancer which can be cured with
endoscopic esophageal ablation, reliably halting progression to
cancer.
About Lucid Diagnostics
Lucid Diagnostics Inc. is a commercial-stage, cancer prevention
medical diagnostics company, and subsidiary of PAVmed Inc. (Nasdaq:
PAVM). Lucid is focused on the millions of patients with
gastroesophageal reflux disease (GERD), also known as chronic
heartburn, who are at risk of developing esophageal precancer and
cancer. Lucid's EsoGuard® Esophageal DNA Test, performed
on samples collected in a brief, noninvasive office procedure with
its EsoCheck Esophageal Cell Collection Device, is the first and
only commercially available diagnostic test capable of serving as a
widespread screening tool to prevent cancer and cancer deaths
through early detection of esophageal precancer in at-risk GERD
patients.
For more information, please visit www.luciddx.com and for more
information about its parent company PAVmed, please visit
www.pavmed.com.
Forward-Looking
Statements
This press release includes forward-looking statements that
involve risk and uncertainties. Forward-looking statements are any
statements that are not historical facts. Such forward-looking
statements, which are based upon the current beliefs and
expectations of Lucid Diagnostics' management, are subject to risks
and uncertainties, which could cause actual results to differ from
the forward-looking statements. Risks and uncertainties that may
cause such differences include, among other things, volatility in
the price of Lucid Diagnostics' common stock; general economic and
market conditions; the uncertainties inherent in research and
development, including the cost and time required to advance Lucid
Diagnostics' products to regulatory submission; whether regulatory
authorities will be satisfied with the design of and results from
Lucid Diagnostics' clinical and preclinical studies; whether and
when Lucid Diagnostics' products are cleared by regulatory
authorities; market acceptance of Lucid Diagnostics' products once
cleared and commercialized; Lucid Diagnostics' ability to raise
additional funding as needed; and other competitive developments.
In addition, Lucid Diagnostics continues to monitor the COVID-19
pandemic and the pandemic's impact on Lucid Diagnostics'
businesses. These factors are difficult or impossible to predict
accurately and many of them are beyond Lucid Diagnostics' control.
In addition, new risks and uncertainties may arise from time to
time and are difficult to predict. For a further list and
description of these and other important risks and uncertainties
that may affect Lucid Diagnostics' future operations, see Part I,
Item 1A, "Risk Factors," in Lucid Diagnostics' most recent Annual
Report on Form 10-K filed with the Securities and Exchange
Commission, as the same may be updated in Part II, Item 1A, "Risk
Factors" in any Quarterly Report on Form 10-Q filed by Lucid
Diagnostics after its most recent Annual Report. Lucid Diagnostics
disclaims any intention or obligation to publicly update or revise
any forward-looking statement to reflect any change in its
expectations or in events, conditions, or circumstances on which
those expectations may be based, or that may affect the likelihood
that actual results will differ from those contained in the
forward-looking statements.
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SOURCE Lucid Diagnostics