Predictive Biosciences Announces Pilot Study Results at GTCBIO's 'Rediscovering Biomarkers' Conference

LEXINGTON, Mass., July 18 /PRNewswire/ -- Predictive Biosciences, an emerging venture developing diagnostic products for informed cancer management(TM), announced today that results from a pilot study will be presented at the GTCBio's Rediscovering Biomarkers Conference, taking place July 23-24, 2007 in San Diego. The results will be used to optimize tests detecting MMPs in urine to manage bladder cancer.

"These preliminary findings are an important step in the development of our first commercial offering - diagnostic assays that enable patient- friendly, cost-effective monitoring and personalized management of bladder cancer survivors," said Eugene Chiu, vice president of business development. "These results also advance Predictive's strategy to develop non-invasive diagnostic tests for a variety of epithelial cancers. The first test from Predictive, based on urinary MMPs and other proprietary biomarkers, will target the more than half a million individuals in the U.S. who have had bladder cancer."

"MMPs are a family of zinc-dependent endopeptidases that have been shown to be key regulators of tumor growth and metastasis formation. Further validation of these results and full development of clinical tests to monitor for bladder cancer recurrence and disease-free status are currently underway," adds Tony Shuber, chief technology officer.

The pilot study assessed the impact of different sample collection methods on sensitivity and specificity of the MMPs as diagnostic biomarkers for bladder cancer. At a fixed protein level resulting in 90% sensitivity (detecting nine of 10 individuals with cancer), the optimal urine sample collection protocol significantly increased MMP-9 marker specificity, from approximately 74% (11 false positives of 42 disease-free individuals) to approximately 91% (five false positives of 54 disease-free individuals).

Following are details of the session: Monday, July 23 - Tuesday, July 24, 2007 Poster Presentation: "Sample Collection Impacts the Performance of Urinary Matrix Metalloproteinases (MMPs) as Diagnostic Biomarkers for Bladder Cancer Recurrence" Presenters: Mr. Anthony Shuber and Dr. Cecilia Fernandez, both of Predictive Biosciences, Inc. Venue: GTCBio's Rediscovering Biomarkers Conference, San Diego Marriott La Jolla

About Predictive Biosciences

Predictive Biosciences is applying proprietary urinary protein biomarkers to develop and commercialize patient-friendly diagnostics across multiple cancer types. The company is initially focused on diagnostics for the precise, real-time management of cancer survivors. Predictive Biosciences is privately funded by Highland Capital Partners and IDG Ventures Boston and is based in Lexington, MA. For more information, visit Predictive Biosciences' website at www.predictivebiosci.com.

CONTACT: Peter Steinerman of Steinerman Biomedical Communications,+1-516-374-3031, prsteinerman@aol.com; or Kate Castle of IDG Ventures,+1-617-534-1228, kcastle@idgventures.com, both for Predictive Biosciences

Web site: http://www.predictivebiosci.com/