KellBenx Secures Worldwide Agreement With Cedars-Sinai Medical Center for Biomarker Technology to Predict Premature Births
PTD occurs in about one-eighth of all pregnancies in the United States – more than a half million cases a year – but the primary current diagnostic testing for PTD risk is used only in the third trimester, to predict whether the patient will go into labor within the next two weeks.
"There is currently no test to predict the risk of PTD in future pregnancies of women who are not yet pregnant, and there is a tremendous need for such a test to identify women at high risk," said Hassan Bennani, MD., CEO of KellBenx. "With this agreement, KellBenx can begin the research process to turn this biomarker technology into a simple blood test that will help physicians focus on preventative strategies in these women and improve pregnancy outcomes. This is early-stage technology, but it has exciting possibilities for potentially reducing infant mortality."
The technology consists of a triple assay of biomarkers that can measure a blood sample obtained from the prospective mother either before pregnancy or in the early stages to identify the potential for PTD. The test could be repeated multiple times during pregnancy to track potential changes in risk as the pregnancy progresses.
About KellBenx
Founded in 2010, KellBenx, Inc. is a privately-held biotechnology company based in New York City. KellBenx is developing high value, innovative tests that leverage the ability to extract clinically relevant information from blood. Our focus is to improve women's healthcare and one of our first tests is in the area of non-invasive prenatal diagnosis (NIPD) for genetic disorders. For more information, please call 631.643.2614 or visit www.kellbenx.com.
CONTACT: Hassan Bennani of KellBenx, +1-646-408-6083, hbennani@KellBenx.com