Newest Study of Stool DNA Testing for Colon Cancer Accepted for Publication; 88% Sensitivity and Simplified Marker Panel Mark Milestone in Non-Invasive Screening for Colon Cancer
EXACT Sciences Corporation (NASDAQ:EXAS) announced today that the results of a prospective, multi-center study, as set forth in a manuscript entitled “Improved Fecal DNA (fDNA) Test for Colorectal Cancer (CRC) Screening”, have been accepted for publication by a major gastroenterology journal. These data were previously reported at the May 2006 annual Digestive Disease Week (DDW) conference, the world’s largest meeting of gastroenterology professionals.
Using a simplified panel of genetic markers, a buffer for DNA stabilization and an enhanced DNA capture technology, EXACT’s second generation stool DNA technology demonstrated an 88% sensitivity for colorectal cancer in this blinded research study. This study also confirmed that the first generation stool DNA technology demonstrated a sensitivity of 73% with use of the DNA stabilization buffer.
“The acceptance of this study for publication further underscores the validity and importance of stool-DNA screening in the battle against colon cancer,” commented Don Hardison, EXACT Sciences’ President and CEO. “Every day 150 people in the U.S. die from colorectal cancer, despite the availability of conventional screening tests like colonoscopy and fecal occult blood testing. In our view, providing patients with additional clinically-supported, patient-friendly options like stool-DNA can only help in the important effort to reduce the unnecessary mortality associated with colorectal cancer.”
About EXACT Sciences Corporation
EXACT Sciences Corporation uses applied genomics to develop effective, patient-friendly screening technologies for use in the detection of cancer. Certain of its technologies have been licensed to Laboratory Corporation of America Holdings (LabCorp) for a stool-based DNA screening assay for colorectal cancer in the average-risk population. Colorectal cancer, which is the most deadly cancer among non-smokers, is generally curable if detected early. Despite the availability of colorectal cancer screening and diagnostic tests for more than 20 years, the rate of early detection of colorectal cancer remains low, and deaths from colorectal cancer remain high. EXACT Sciences believes its genomics-based technologies will help enable detection of colorectal cancer so that more people can be effectively treated. Founded in 1995, EXACT Sciences is based in Marlborough, Mass. PreGen-Plus(TM) has not been approved or cleared by the Food & Drug Administration.