DiagnoCure Inc.
Medical Devices & Tech  Advamed Member
2050 Rene-Levesque Blvd W., 6th Floor
Quebec, QC G1V 2K8 Canada
phone: (418) 527-6100
fax: (418) 527-0240
Symbol CUR
Exchange .TO
Founded 1994
Employees
www.diagnocure.com
Research Sector Medical Devices & Tech
Summary Description
Biomarkers and Tests for Cancer Detection and Diagnosis
Management
John C. Schafer, President and CEO; Jean-Francois Bureau, CFO; Paul Gobeil, Chairman of the Board of DIrectors
Ownership
Financials Mkt Cap :51


* numbers in thousands

 
Keywords
diagnostics, urology, advamed
http://www.diagnocure.com/img/logo-entete.gif

Comment | Printable Version | Nov. 21, 2008
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Description
DiagnoCure develops products for cancer detection and diagnosis. It specializes in molecular tests that detect irregular gene or protein activity patterns associated with cancer.
Products / Services
Diagnocure first entered the bladder cancer market with Immunocyt(TM)/uCyt+(TM), a non-invasive test for superficial bladder cancer detection. Its latest product pipeline includes: the PCA3 prostate cancer test, the Previstage(TM) GCC colorectal cancer staging test, and the GCC colorectal cancer monitoring test. The company has developed prognostic markers for lung and prostate cancers, as well as the Shc line of prognostic tests for colorectal cancer, breast cancer, gastric cancer, and melanoma.
Technology / Differentiation
Through a conventional urine sample, ImmunoCyt/uCyt+ measures the presence of cancerous cells in the bladder with the assistance of a fluorescence microscope and eliminates the need for invasive cystoscopy (ImmunoCyt/uCyt+, combined with urinary cytology, has a test sensitivity of 85% to 95%). PCA3 is a genetic marker specific for prostate cancer; the uPM3(TM) is a urine-based diagnostic test used to detect PCA3 RNA expression. The GCC receptor is found specifically on colorectal cells, forming the basis of a highly sensitive method (Previstage(TM) GCC) of colorectal cancer detection since it relies on messenger RNA-based amplification technology. Most recently, the Shc prognostic tests measure the level of activated tyrosine phosphorylated (PY) Shc protein and p66 Shc protein in tissue specimens. These proteins are involved in many well-documented cellular pathways associated with tumor aggressiveness in many cancers, serving as strong indicators for risk of disease recurrence and predictors of response to cancer therapy.
Market / Customers
Cancer is the second leading cause of mortality after heart disease in North America, accounting for one out of every four deaths. An estimated 1.6 million Americans and Canadians will be diagnosed with cancer and more than 638,000 will die from it in 2008. According to the United States National Institute of Health (NIH), the costs related to cancer in the United States in 2007 totaled $219.2 billion, the highest of any disease. Molecular diagnostic tests will increasingly be used for cancer screening, diagnosis, staging, therapy selection, and relapse monitoring. They represent a market forecasted to grow at over thirty percent annually.
Status
ImmunoCyt (TM) has FDA clearance for commercialization in the United States for the monitoring of bladder cancer. The company launched its Previstage (TM) GCC colorectal cancer staging test in August 2008. A study published in the November 2008 issue of the Journal of Urology supports the use of PCA3-based tests to better assess the prognosis of prostate cancer.


2008-11-22-1029