Epigenomics AG (Frankfurt Prime Standard: ECX), the cancer
molecular diagnostics company, today announced the results of a
survey conducted at europacolon’s first European CRC Patient
Conference, The Power of Patient Voice 2011, showing that patients
believe tests using blood samples would encourage more people to
participate in regular screening for colorectal cancer.
Of the participants in the survey, more than 50% had previously
heard of the possibility of CRC blood testing and more than 70%
thought that using a blood test would encourage more people to
participate in regular screening for colorectal cancer. Some of
the most often mentioned reasons that survey participants gave for
preferring blood tests were ease-of-use and simplicity, not having
to handle stool samples as necessary for conventional non-invasive
testing, and overall fit with other routine blood tests.
The survey was jointly conducted by Epigenomics and europacolon,
the first European non-profit organization dedicated to colorectal
cancer. europacolon’s mission is to prevent deaths from colorectal
cancer and improve the quality of life and support for those
affected by the disease. Epigenomics has developed the world’s
first in vitro diagnostic blood test for the early detection of
colorectal cancer known as the Septin9 Test and fully supports
europacolon in its fight against colorectal cancer.
Jola Gore-Booth, the Founder and CEO of europacolon commented:
“We are delighted that over 140 delegates from 27 countries
globally attended this first ever Colorectal Cancer Patient
Conference. The great success of the Conference has given us
enormous encouragement in our work to promote the prevention and
early diagnosis of colorectal cancer in all European countries.
Putting in place formal population screening programs for all the
citizens of Europe is essential for effective prevention of
colorectal cancer and for saving thousands of lives. A blood test
for the early detection of colorectal cancer could remove some of
the hurdles to effective compliance to colorectal cancer screening
and be instrumental in reducing mortality from this killer
disease.”
Independent of the europacolon survey, Quest Diagnostics, one of
Epigenomics’ partners in the U.S.A., in June announced, in
collaboration with the U.S. non-profit organization Colon Cancer
Alliance, the results of a jointly conducted U.S. national
telephone survey of more than 1,300 men and women 50 years of age
and older. In this survey, 31% of the participants reported that
they had never been screened for CRC. Of the respondents between
60-70 years of age that had previously participated in screening,
33% stated that they had only been screened once in the past. These
results demonstrate widespread lack of adherence to national
guidelines in the U.S.A., which recommend regular screening by
colonoscopy in combination with other tests for colorectal cancer
for all men and women aged 50 and older. When asked about the
option of a blood test, 78% of the participants said that they
were likely to take a blood test for colorectal cancer screening
and 75% said they were more likely to get screened more frequently
if a blood test was offered to them. The survey results were
presented during the Colon Cancer Alliance’s national conference
“Family Matters: What You and Your Family Need to Know about Colon
Cancer,” which was held June 23-25 in Denver, CO, U.S.A.
Dr. Jürgen Beck, M.D., Senior VP Medical Affairs of Epigenomics,
commented: “The lack of widespread acceptance and regular
utilization of conventional methods for the early detection of
colorectal cancer, such as colonoscopy and stool tests, severely
limit the potential of screening to reduce mortality from this
common cancer. The two surveys in Europe and the U.S.A. clearly
show the potential of blood-based screening as an approach to
increase compliance. We expect these findings to be substantiated
further through studies into patient preferences and screening
adherence that are ongoing at clinical centers in the U.S.A. and
Europe.”
Colorectal cancer is curable in more than 90% of cases if
diagnosed while still localized. Nevertheless, this disease is one
of the most frequent causes of cancer-related deaths in the
industrialized world due to lack of adherence to current screening
recommendations.
-Ends-
Further information
For further information on europacolon please visit
www.europacolon.com.The 2011 europacolon Colorectal Cancer Patient
Conference “The Power of Patient Voice” was held on June 24-25,
2011 alongside the 13th World Congress on Gastrointestinal Cancers
organized by the European Society for Medical Oncology in
Barcelona, Spain.
For information on the Colon Cancer Alliance please see
www.ccalliance.org.For press releases on the U.S. survey, please
visit Quest Diagnostics’ website at
http://questdiagnostics.mediaroom.com/index.php?s=43 or the Colon
Cancer Alliance website at
http://www.ccalliance.org/releases/index.html
About Epigenomics
Epigenomics (www.epigenomics.com) is a molecular diagnostics
company developing and commercializing a pipeline of proprietary
products for cancer. The Company’s products enable doctors to
diagnose cancer earlier and more accurately, leading to improved
outcomes for patients. Epigenomics’ lead product, Epi proColon®, is
a blood-based test for the early detection of colorectal cancer,
which is currently marketed in Europe and is in development for the
U.S.A. The Company’s technology and products have been validated
through multiple partnerships with leading global diagnostic
companies including Abbott, Quest Diagnostics, QIAGEN, and Sysmex.
Epigenomics is an international company with operations in Europe
and the U.S.A.
About europacolon
europacolon is an independent Not for Profit organisation
founded in 2005. It is the first European organisation dedicated to
colorectal cancer and it aims to unite patients, carers, healthcare
professionals, politicians, the media and the public in the fight
against the disease. europacolon’s mission is to reduce deaths and
improve the quality of life and support for those affected by
colorectal cancer in Europe.
Its aims and objectives are to:
- Prioritise and raise the profile of
colorectal cancer
- Establish patient advocacy groups
- Create a colorectal cancer
community
- Increase awareness of symptoms and
prevention of the disease
- Campaign for screening and improved
choice of treatments
- Encourage the improvement of European
standards and equity of care through the development of National
Cancer Plans
Since 2005 europacolon has established dedicated colorectal
cancer organisations in 27 European countries: 10 Affiliate
Members; 8 Associate Members; and 9 pending Members (Austria,
Belgium, Bosnia and Herzegovina, Croatia, Cyprus, Czech Republic,
France, Finland, Germany, Georgia, Greece, Hungary, Italy, Latvia,
Lithuania, Netherlands, Republic of Macedonia, Poland, Portugal,
Romania, Russia, Serbia, Slovakia, Slovenia, Spain, Sweden, and the
UK).
For more information, please visit www.europacolon.com
Notes for editors
About Colorectal Cancer
For 2011 the American Cancer Society expects an estimated
140,000 new cases of colorectal cancer to be diagnosed in the
United States and almost 50,000 U.S. citizens to die from the
disease. The 5-year survival rate is over 90% if the disease is
treated in early stages but diminishes to about 12% once the cancer
has affected other organs. Today, the majority of cancers are still
found in advanced stages due to insufficient patient compliance to
screening recommendations that leaves half of the population
unscreened. Increasing compliance to regular cancer screening in
the population aged 50 years and older is considered key to
decreasing mortality from this disease.
Septin9 blood tests for CRC
Epigenomics and its partner Abbott already market their
respective first generation CE-marked Septin9 tests in Europe, the
Middle East, Asia/Pacific and further markets. Epigenomics is in
the process of developing a second generation Septin9 assay as a
colorectal cancer screening test for the U.S. and European markets.
Epigenomics expects to submit this enhanced Septin9 colorectal
cancer screening test branded Epi proColon® 2.0 to the FDA for
regulatory review before year-end 2011. Under licenses from
Epigenomics, Septin9 testing is currently offered in the U.S.A. by
Quest Diagnostics (ColoVantage™) and ARUP Laboratories (Methylated
Septin9 Test) as laboratory-developed tests aiding in the detection
of colorectal cancer.
Epigenomics legal disclaimers. This communication
expressly or implicitly contains certain forward-looking statements
concerning Epigenomics AG and its business. Such statements involve
certain known and unknown risks, uncertainties and other factors
which could cause the actual results, financial condition,
performance or achievements of Epigenomics AG to be materially
different from any future results, performance or achievements
expressed or implied by such forward-looking statements.
Epigenomics AG is providing this communication as of this date and
does not undertake to update any forward-looking statements
contained herein as a result of new information, future events or
otherwise.
The information contained in this communication does not
constitute nor imply an offer to sell or transfer any product, and
no product based on this technology is currently available for sale
by Epigenomics in the United States or Canada. The analytical and
clinical performance characteristics of any Epigenomics product
based on this technology which may be sold at some future time in
the U.S. have not been established.
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