PreMD Submits Special 510(k) Application to FDA for New Handheld PREVU(x) Reader
July 26 2006 - 2:00PM
PR Newswire (US)
Submission also made to Health Canada, plan to CE-Mark in Europe
TORONTO, July 26 /PRNewswire-FirstCall/ -- Predictive medicine
company PreMD Inc. (TSX: PMD; Amex: PME) today announced that it
has submitted a special premarket notification, or Special 510(k),
to the U.S. Food and Drug Administration (FDA) for regulatory
clearance of a second-generation spectrometer, or color reader, for
the PREVU(x) Point of Care (POC) Skin Sterol Test, the Company's
commercially available diagnostic to assess risk of heart disease.
"This standalone, portable reader is designed to offer users
greater flexibility," said Dr. Brent Norton, President and Chief
Executive Officer. "We believe that these improvements will enhance
the market appeal of PREVU(x) POC." The new reader, which does not
need to be attached to a computer, enables PREVU(x) POC to operate
in a greater variety of healthcare settings. The new reader was
developed in conjunction with Boehringer Ingelheim microParts GmbH,
a specialist in micro-system technology and a leading supplier of
micro-structured components and systems in the biomedical field.
The reader will be manufactured in the United States by Jabil
Circuit Inc. (NYSE:JBL), an electronic product solutions company
that provides electronics design, manufacturing and product
management services to companies in a range of industries around
the world. A Special 510(k) is submitted for a modification to a
device that has been previously cleared for marketing under the
510(k) process. The FDA's review process for Special 510(k)
submissions typically requires 30 days unless there are questions
that need to be addressed. PreMD has also submitted an Amendment to
its Class II Medical Device License for PREVU(x) POC to Health
Canada's Therapeutic Products Directorate (TPD). The TPD is the
Canadian federal authority that regulates pharmaceutical drugs and
medical devices for human use. The review process for Class II
license Amendments typically requires up to 30 days unless there
are questions that need to be addressed. PreMD also intends to CE
(Conformite Europeene)-Mark the new reader, which will allow it to
be marketed in the European Union. About PREVU(x)POC Skin Sterol
Test PREVU(x) non-invasively measures the amount of cholesterol
(sterol) that has accumulated in the skin tissues, as opposed to
blood. There is no fasting or other patient preparation required
for the test. Clinical studies have shown that as cholesterol
accumulates on artery walls it also accumulates in other tissues,
including the skin. High levels of skin sterol are correlated with
higher incidence of coronary artery disease (CAD). PREVU(x) POC is
cleared for sale in Canada, the U.S. and Europe where it is
available for sale to medical professionals. About PreMD PreMD Inc.
is a world leader in predictive medicine, dedicated to developing
rapid, non-invasive tests for the early detection of
life-threatening diseases. PreMD's cardiovascular products, which
are branded as PREVU(x) Skin Sterol Test, are licensed worldwide to
McNeil Consumer Healthcare. The company's cancer tests include
ColorectAlert(TM), LungAlert(TM) and a breast cancer test. PreMD's
head office is located in Toronto, and its research and product
development facility is at McMaster University in Hamilton,
Ontario. For further information, please visit
http://www.premdinc.com/. For more information about PREVU(x),
please visit http://www.prevu.com/ or call 1-866-283-8328 (North
America) or 00-800-8283-8328 (Europe), or email . This press
release contains forward-looking statements. These statements
involve known and unknown risks and uncertainties, which could
cause the Company's actual results to differ materially from those
in the forward-looking statements. Such risks and uncertainties
include, among others, the successful development or marketing of
the Company's products, the competitiveness of the Company's
products if successfully commercialized, the lack of operating
profit and availability of funds and resources to pursue R&D
projects, the successful and timely completion of clinical studies,
product liability, reliance on third-party manufacturers, the
ability of the Company to take advantage of business opportunities,
uncertainties related to the regulatory process, and general
changes in economic conditions. In addition, while the Company
routinely obtains patents for its products and technology, the
protection offered by the Company's patents and patent applications
may be challenged, invalidated or circumvented by our competitors
and there can be no guarantee of our ability to obtain or maintain
patent protection for our products or product candidates. Investors
should consult the Company's quarterly and annual filings with the
Canadian and U.S. securities commissions for additional information
on risks and uncertainties relating to the forward-looking
statements. Investors are cautioned not to rely on these
forward-looking statements. PreMD is providing this information as
of the date of this press release and does not undertake any
obligation to update any forward-looking statements contained in
this press release as a result of new information, future events or
otherwise. (x) Trademark DATASOURCE: PreMD Inc. CONTACT: Ron
Hosking, Chief Financial Officer, Tel: (416) 222-3449, Email: ;
Sarah Borg-Olivier, Director, Communications, Tel: (416) 222-3449,
Email:
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