NEW YORK and VANCOUVER, British Columbia, March 5, 2015 /PRNewswire/ -- BioMark Diagnostics
(CSE: BUX FSE: 20B OTCQB: BMKDF) -- The ultimate goal in the cancer
diagnostics sector is to establish an assay that is capable of
detecting tumors before they become disruptive, metastatic and
symptomatic. For the past forty years, the development of such an
assay has been the holy grail of researchers, both in
academia and industry. Although many breakthrough diagnostics have
been invented such as ELISA-based assays, molecular biotechnology,
genomic screening and advanced imaging, each have considerable
limitations related to safety, biomarker accessibility,
reproducibility and patient discomfort from invasive tissue
sampling.
A new and promising approach to develop an ultra-early and
non-invasive strategy implements discovery platforms for enzymes
that are over-expressed in cancer cells. These enzymes are capable
of producing high concentrations of metabolites that can be
detected above and beyond traditional biomarkers.
BioMark Diagnostics, a Vancouver-based company, has used this
metabolomics approach to identify such an enzyme called
spermidine/spermine N1-acetyltransferase (SSAT). SSAT is capable of
specifically converting an FDA approved drug called amantadine into
a detectable form called N-acetylamantadine. This reaction occurs
at much higher levels in cancer cells and the N-acetylamantadine
metabolite is excreted in urine for endpoint analysis. This assay
is capable of detecting pre-visible tumors that are ~1/100 the size
of the period at the end of this sentence.
Q: As a breakthrough technology, do you feel the assay will
replace existing detection methods and standards?
A: BioMark and the Medical Community in general will
always search to improve current methods of detection. Current
practice will continue to rely on "standards". However, when one
investigates the diagnostic power of existing detection methods
there is much room for improvement. BioMark is confident that its
assay will significantly amplify the diagnostic power of the
existing state of the art. Importantly, our team envisions our
assay as a primary assay with existing detection methods
supplementing ours.
Q: How long does the assay take from sample collection to
diagnosis?
A: Our current technology is approved by Health Canada
for use with Liquid Chromatography tandem Mass Spectroscopy
(LC-MS/MS) where results can take from 2 hours to 1 day
turnarounds. Although the results of LC-MS/MS are indisputable,
BioMark recognized early on that, if we were to realize our broader
objectives of "labs to villages", it was necessary to move towards
more rapid detection methods. As such, BioMark has spent
considerable time, effort and money to innovate easier-to-use, more
rapid and economical detection methods starting with our
soon-to-be-released ELISA and ICT kits. These advancements will
offer point of care utility for patients and clinicians.
Future developments include our break-through technology in the
biophotonics sector utilizing Surface Enhanced Raman Spectrometry
(SERS). This novel application of Raman Spectroscopy to help with
cancer detection is an exciting example of how the biophotonics
industry will make significant contributions to Life Sciences. Even
more important is our continued efforts to innovate a paper-SERS
(p-SERS) application that will allow our vision of "labs to
villages" with LC-MS/MS-like results being realized with
easy-to-use, hand-held equipment. This technology break-through
will allow the large population and underserved market places in
the low and low-to-medium income countries access to appropriate
cancer detection technologies.
Q: What is the mortality rate associated with very early
detection of cancers and do you believe that this assay will
further reduce this rate.
A: Over 50% of cancers are curable if caught early.
Unfortunately, current limits of detection are not allowing for
very early stage cancer detection. BioMark's technology has
clinical evidence of detecting pre-visible and pre-symptomatic
cancers. In one unsolicited testimony of a Canadian oncologist, our
technology has the opportunity to make advanced lung cancer
"obsolete". The US Preventive Service Task Force has published a
draft recommendation that patients at high-risk of lung cancer have
CT scans for early-stage disease. The decision could lead to
screening of thousands of people in the hope of curbing deaths from
lung cancer. Mortality from lung cancer is high in the USA. The disease kills about 160,000 people
per year: more than any other cancer. Early detection is rare, yet
early diagnosis could greatly improve 5-year survival - at present,
a mere 16% in the USA. BioMark
knows it can play a pivotal role in this particularly devastating
disease.
Q: What is the most noticeable success related to the assay
from clinical trials results?
A: Our chief scientists and technologists noticed a clear
signal that the assay can detect cancer in the earliest stages and
we have proven the science and established clinical trials success.
Additionally BioMark has completed protocols related to:
- Response to treatment initially related to lung cancer.
- Cancer survivorship programs - offer patients effective remote
monitoring capability for potential relapse alert.
Q: What do you feel that BioMark's next and most important
move into the United States will
entail?
A: Our recent move to an OTCQB listing should allow us to
realize our mid-term goal of gaining a significant shareholder base
in USA and ultimately be approved to list on NASDAQ. To support
this financial milestone BioMark realizes the critical nature of
selecting proper locations for gaining presence in USA. We have
been invited by the Canadian Government to consider locations in
Boston and San Francisco as important footholds in USA.
Although our exploration of Boston
was encouraging, BioMark will follow its' incorporation in
Delaware with setting up offices
in Maryland and in Silicon Valley
of California. We have chosen
Maryland due to the proximity to
the University of Maryland,
John Hopkins and the National Cancer
Institute and the FDA.
For more information on BioMark Diagnostics cutting edge cancer
detection assay, read the Biotech Bulletin at –
www.criterionbioscience.com
Criterion BioScience is a news group that only evaluates the
best up and coming companies that we feel will profoundly
influence the biotechnology and pharmaceutical industries. We
differ from all other news resources, such that our analyses are
conducted by research doctors who are renowned in the respective
field of the evaluation.
Criterion BioScience Capital Group,
info@criterionbioscience.com
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SOURCE Criterion BioScience Capital Group