PHOENIX - (Business Wire) Provista Life Sciences LLC (PLS) announced today that the National Health System
’s Ethical Committee approval has been granted to proceed with a validation study of its Biomarker Translation Test (BT Test) in the United Kingdom (UK). The BT Test, a new blood test developed by Provista Life Sciences to aid healthcare providers in early breast cancer detection, will undergo a validation study in the UK to be conducted in conjunction with the Cambridge University Hospital
’s (Addenbrooke
’s) Breast Unit. The validation study is anticipated to begin recruitment in November 2008 and to have the study completed within the next 9 months.
PLS is a medical diagnostics development and commercialization firm located in Phoenix, Arizona. PLS recently signed an agreement with BreastHealth UK, a wholly owned subsidiary of International Health Technology Ltd. located in Cambridge, England, to facilitate with sample collection and transport during the validation study, as well as future commercialization of the BT Test in the UK and Ireland. BreastHealth UK assists women in the proactive management of their own breast health needs, and provides breast screening using state-of-the-art technology and recognized experts in breast disease to identify breast cancer early.
“We are extremely pleased to have secured the NHS’ Ethical Committee approval to carry out a UK validation study with Cambridge University Hospital, which is an internationally renowned NHS Breast Unit,” said Donald F. Weber, VP of Strategic Alliances for Provista Life Sciences. “Upon successful completion of this study we will begin our efforts with BreastHealth UK to commercialize and expand the availability of the BT Test to women and physicians in the UK, Ireland and other EU countries.”
The BT Test evaluates multiple cancer-related proteins in the blood and combines the results with a brief patient medical profile to help physicians in their efforts to find breast cancer as early as possible. Clinical research conducted on the BT Test showed an accuracy rate above 80 percent for all women. The BT Test is designed to be used in conjunction with mammography and other diagnostic imaging procedures as part of a comprehensive breast cancer screening effort to assist healthcare providers in detecting breast cancer earlier.
“One of the objectives of the Cambridge Breast Unit is to provide an accurate diagnosis for patients with specific breast health problems,” said Mr. Gordon C. Wishart, Consultant Breast Surgeon & Director of Breast Services, Cambridge Breast Unit, Addenbrooke’s Hospital. “We are excited about this validation study effort with Provista Life Sciences and feel the BT Test has the potential of providing us with an important advancement in women’s breast healthcare diagnostics.”
About Provista Life Sciences
Provista Life Sciences is a biotechnology diagnostics development and commercialization company that provides the scientific and operating management resources to rapidly advance the development and introduction of novel diagnostics technologies into the domestic and global marketplace. For more information, visit the company’s Web site at www.ProvistaLS.com or call 602-224-5500.
About Cambridge University Hospitals
Cambridge University Hospitals is one of the UK’s leading hospitals. As a center for specialist care and a provider of local services, its reputation is worldwide as one of the foremost university teaching hospitals, and is one of only five comprehensive biomedical research centers in the UK undertaking world-class research. For more information, visit Cambridge University Hospital’s (Addenbrooke’s) Web site at www.addenbrookes.org.uk or call 011-44-1223-245151.
About International Health Technology Ltd.
International Health Technology Ltd. provides personalized breast screening programs in the UK through BreastHealth UK using state-of-the-art technology and recognized experts in breast disease detection, management and care. For more information, visit the company’s Web site at www.BreastHealthUK.com or call 011-44-1223-352200.
Provista Life Sciences, Phoenix
Caroline Hardy, 602-224-5500
hardyc@ProvistaLS.com
www.ProvistaLS.com
