Novigenix Signs Distribution Agreement With Dr Risch Medical Laboratory To Access Swiss German Market For Colox, Its Blood Based Colorectal Cancer Test

LAUSANNE, Switzerland--(BUSINESS WIRE)--Novigenix SA today announced a commercialization agreement with Dr Risch Medical Laboratory for Colox, its blood test for the early detection of colorectal cancer (CRC). Dr Risch is a successful and science-driven clinical laboratory organization with a strong foothold in the Swiss German market and Liechtenstein.

The agreement significantly enhances Novigenix’s footprint in the Swiss market. In 2014, the Company closed a similar agreement with Unilabs to target the French Swiss market. Novigenix continues to seek commercialization agreements for Colox to cover the entire Swiss market, while also intensifying its efforts for international distribution, in particular in other European markets.

Starting in March 2017, and with Colox as its flagship product, Dr Risch intends to launch a full range of diagnostic colorectal cancer services, including gold-standard fecal immunochemical tests (FIT) to detect blood in stool.

Prof. Dr. Lorenz Risch. Chief Medical Officer of Risch, said: “Colox has all the hallmarks of a convenient test for colorectal cancer and can serve as a valuable tool in the physician’s arsenal to identify cases with colorectal cancer. Colorectal cancer places a huge burden on people’s lives and on our healthcare system. At Dr Risch we share Novigenix’s ambition to increase awareness for CRC and to position Colox as a tool for cancer prevention.”

Nicolas Demierre, COO of Novigenix SA, said: “We are delighted to have found in Dr Risch a solid and science-driven partner that is dedicated to help reduce cancer mortality through early detection of colorectal cancer and advanced polyps. Together with data from our ongoing, prospective 1000-patient study PROSPEROS, we expect that our collaboration with Dr Risch will significantly contribute to our growing body of clinical evidence of Colox in routine medical practice.”

About colorectal cancer
Colorectal cancer is the second leading cause of cancer mortality in Europe and North America. Current methods of detection of CRC are cumbersome and invasive, requiring unpleasant preparation of the colon, or stool manipulation at home. As a result the majority of individuals at average risk resist testing and fail to be referred to potentially therapeutic or preventative colonoscopy. In Switzerland alone this leads to 5 people dying every day from this largely preventable disease.

About Colox^®:
Colox^® is a proven molecular blood test that has been designed to support physicians in case finding of patients with CRC and adenomas for referral to colonoscopy. The test can support the healthcare community to significantly reduce mortality from colorectal cancer through early detection and intervention. Colox can be ordered by any physician in routine medical practice to identify patients with adenomatous polyps and colorectal cancer.

About Dr Risch:
Dr Risch SA is science-driven, family-owned leader in laboratory testing in Switzerland and Liechtenstein. Founded in 1970, Dr Risch today operates 13 clinical laboratories in all Swiss regional language regions with privileged access to private, regional, and academic hospitals and general practitioners. For more information please visit www.risch.ch

About Novigenix SA:
Novigenix SA is an innovative Swiss molecular diagnostics company focused on the commercialization of new blood tests for the early detection of cancer. Novigenix’s products rely on a new generation of predictive molecular signatures and state-of-the-art mathematical analytical models to provide new solutions for the early detection of cancer. For more information please visit www.novigenix.com