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Cellmid partner Quest progresses midkine lung cancer diagnostic test

Published: 16:08 20 Jun 2014 AEST

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Cellmid (ASX:CDY) partner Quest (Celera) has made major advances towards the launch of a lung cancer diagnostic test and expects to submit data from a key trial to the U.S. National Cancer Institute. 
    
Samples from the PLCO trial are currently being tested on the Luminex platform with the data to be submitted to the NCI’s data review committee later this year.

Quest has also reported on four other clinical studies conducted as part of its clinical validation program for the lung cancer test.

Lung Cancer Diagnostic Test

Quest has been developing since 2009 a blood test to replace biopsy for determining whether pulmonary nodules identified in the lungs through computer tomography or chest X-rays are cancerous.

It had in October 2009 signed a licence agreement with Cellmid to include midkine as one of the biomarkers in the test.

This is expected to provide more accurate results at lower cost and would result in Quest paying Cellmid royalties along with a milestone payment.

In 2013, Quest reported it had signed an agreement with the NCI to participate in the chest X-Ray screening Prostate, Lung, Colorectal and Ovarian Trial (PLCO) as part of their clinical validation program.

It also noted growing support for a lung cancer screening program in the U.S.

The target market for the test is estimated at 7 million people annually.

Quest has until 31 October 2014 to commercialise their lung cancer blood test with MK included, after which they maintain their ability to use MK, but will lose exclusivity under the terms of the license agreement.



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