Riverain Medical Awarded Contract to Provide Veterans Hospitals with Computer-Aided Detection Technology for Early Identification of Lung Cancer

DAYTON, Ohio, July 21 /PRNewswire/ -- Riverain Medical, an industry leader and innovator in computer-aided detection (CAD) and diagnostic technologies, today announced it has received a Veterans Affairs contract for its OnGuard(TM) Chest X-ray CAD technology. Used in conjunction with the reading of standard digital chest X-rays, OnGuard quickly identifies solitary pulmonary nodules that may be early-stage lung cancer. The contract streamlines the process for the VA and other authorized federal agencies to purchase the CAD software.

"The number of veterans diagnosed with lung cancer in this country is alarming," said Diane Hirakawa, Chairman and CEO of Riverain Medical. "The OnGuard system will allow radiologists at VA hospitals across the country to better detect suspicious nodules which may indicate the presence of early- stage lung cancer thereby increasing survival rates of this deadly disease."

According to a recent study in the American Journal of Psychiatry, veterans are 25 to 75 percent more likely to develop some form of lung cancer than non-veterans. A 26-year evaluation of 248,046 U.S. veterans showed that more than half of cancer deaths among current smokers were attributable to cigarette smoking, making lung cancer the most widespread malignancy among veterans. Moreover, it is one of the most common diagnoses requiring inpatient care through the VA, which spends upwards of a half a billion dollars each year on smoking-related disease alone.(i)

Lung cancer has been a growing health concern among United States war veterans dating back to World War II. The overwhelming prevalence of smoking and exposure to radioactive materials among veterans places a large disease burden on the VA health care system. For example, many of the estimated 2.6 million military personnel who served in the Vietnam War are at risk for developing Agent Orange-induced lung cancer.(ii)

The five-year survival rate for lung cancer increases to 49 percent from 15 percent when caught early. However, only 16 percent of lung cancer cases are detected at this early stage when it is most treatable.(iii) With the use of the OnGuard system, the VA can quickly and effectively identify suspicious solitary pulmonary nodules that may be early-stage lung cancer.

About Riverain Medical

Riverain Medical, LLC is a privately-held medical software technology company headquartered in Dayton, Ohio, specializing in computer-aided detection (CAD) of diseases such as lung cancer. The company's staff is comprised of seasoned medical advisors, regulatory and quality analysts, programmers, and managers that have spent their entire careers in healthcare. Riverain's ownership and management team have extensive experience in the medical products industry, with an emphasis on research and development and the successful commercialization of medical technologies.

Riverain has introduced the first FDA-PMA approved chest X-ray CAD product. Using conventional chest X-rays, Riverain's OnGuard(TM) system assists radiologists in identifying features associated with solitary pulmonary nodules that could represent early-stage lung cancer and may require further investigation.

(i) Miles McFall, Ph.D., Andrew J. Saxon, M.D., Charles E. Thompson, Et. Al. Improving the Rates of Quitting Smoking for Veterans With Posttraumatic Stress Disorder July 2005: 162:1311-1319. American Journal of Psychiatry.

CONTACT: Jane Hauser of Schwartz Communications, +1-781-684-0770,
Riverainmedical@schwartz-pr.com, for Riverain Medical, or Amanda Pressel of
Riverain Medical, +1-937-531-5084, APressel@riverainmedical.com