SEATTLE, March 28 /PRNewswire/ -- Tessera, Inc., a Seattle-based biomedical company, has released its first product, ProstaMark(TM) EPCA (Early Prostate Cancer Antigen), as an Analyte Specific Reagent (ASR) for commercial use in pathology laboratories to assist pathologists in their efforts to determine if cancer is present in the prostate.
Tessera’s EPCA test is now available at Unipath, LLC (Denver, Colorado) and will soon be offered by pathology laboratories throughout the country, as well as major prostate cancer centers. Pathologists will use the test to assist in the detection of prostate cancer in biopsy tissue samples, in ways not currently possible, and will then report their findings to the patient’s urologist.
Unipath has the largest pathology practice in the Rocky Mountain Region with 25 pathologists and supporting staff and management. CEO Tricia Hughey states: “Unipath is pleased to now offer Tessera’s EPCA antibody for predictive testing in prostate carcinoma. Utilized in conjunction with standard evaluation procedures, we believe the EPCA test will be an important tool in the ongoing surveillance of prostate cancer patients. In addition, we predict that EPCA will contribute positively to the future control of prostate cancer.”
Dr. Ralph Giorno, M.D. and Medical Director of Unipath, further states that “EPCA has great potential as a biomarker in the evolution of clinical management of patients at high risk of developing prostate cancer. Once again, Unipath is taking pathology to the next level.”
Published in the April 2004 Issue of the Journal of Urology, study findings from Dr. Robert Getzenberg, Director of the Brady Urological Research Institute at Johns Hopkins, indicate that prostate cancer can be detected as many as five years earlier than it is currently being diagnosed, by testing for the EPCA protein in biopsy tissue samples. Dr. Getzenberg explained that EPCA is a protein that indicates the earliest changes that occur in cells during the development of cancer.
A second independent EPCA study from Kagawa University in Japan has been accepted for publication in the Journal of Urology later in 2005. The Japanese study supports Dr. Getzenberg’s original findings.
Tessera has licensed more than 60 markers from John Hopkins University and the University of Pittsburgh. EPCA is the first of these markers to be commercialized by Tessera, and the Company expects to launch a second product for the early detection of colon cancer later in 2005. In addition, Tessera is currently working on the development of blood tests for both prostate and colon cancer and expects to commence clinical trials on its first blood test for prostate cancer before the end of the year. Dr. Getzenberg’s first manuscript on the EPCA prostate cancer blood test has been accepted for publication in the May 2005 edition of Cancer Research.
According to Dr. Getzenberg, “Our ultimate objective is to differentiate between aggressive and non-aggressive forms of prostate and colon cancer. Through our collaboration with Tessera over the past three years, we are making significant progress toward the achievement of this important goal.”
Tessera has contracted Chemicon International, a subsidiary of Serologicals, Inc., located in Temecula, CA, to manufacture the ProstaMark(TM) EPCA product.
About Tessera, Inc.
Tessera, Inc. (Seattle, WA) was incorporated in 2000 by Dr. Robert Masterson and H. Raymond Cairncross as a biomedical company committed to the discovery and commercialization of products for the early detection of prostate and colon cancer. Through its licensing arrangements with both Johns Hopkins University School of Medicine and the University of Pittsburgh, Tessera has obtained exclusive, worldwide rights to the use and development of more than 60 protein markers for the early diagnosis of these cancers as well as for drug screening and “in vivo” imaging. EPCA is the first of potentially many early cancer detection markers to be developed and commercialized by Tessera.
About Unipath LLC
Unipath, LLC (Denver, CO) is one of the largest pathology practices in the Rocky Mountain Region with 25 pathologists and supporting histotechnologists, cytotechnologists, management and other personnel. Unipath provides laboratory and pathology services to hospitals, clinics, doctor’s offices, laboratories, and other facilities along the Front Range of Colorado and beyond and is the largest provider of anatomical pathology services in the Rocky mountain Region.
Forward Looking Statements
This press release contains forward-looking statements, including, without limitation, statements related to Tessera’s EPCA products and its other research and development programs. These forward-looking statements are based upon Tessera’s current expectations. Forward-looking statements involve risks and uncertainties. Tessera’s actual results and the timing of events could differ materially from those anticipated in such forward-looking statements as a result of these risks and uncertainties, which include, without limitation, risks that neither Tessera nor its collaboration partners will not be able to commercialize its product candidates if preclinical studies do not produce successful results or clinical trials do not demonstrate safety and efficacy in humans; if third parties do not manufacture the Company’s product candidates in sufficient quantities and at an acceptable cost, clinical development and commercialization of its product candidates would be delayed; use of third-party manufacturers may increase the risk that the Company will not have adequate supplies of its product candidates; if third parties on whom the Company relies do not perform as contractually required or expected, the Company may not be able to obtain regulatory approval for or commercialize its product candidates; the Company is dependent upon collaborative arrangements to complete the development and commercialization of some of its product candidates, and these collaborative arrangements may place the development of its product candidates outside its control, may require it to relinquish important rights or may otherwise be on terms unfavorable to the Company; and if the Company is not able to obtain required regulatory approvals, the Company will not be able to commercialize its product candidates. You should not place undue reliance on these forward looking statements, which apply only as of the date of the press release. Tessera expressly disclaims any obligation or undertaking to release publicly any updates or revisions to any forward-looking statements contained herein to reflect any change in its expectations with regard thereto or any change in events, conditions or circumstances on which any such statements are based.
CONTACT: Tessera, Inc. Michael C. Perry Investor and Media Relations 206-223-2714 mperry@tesserainc.com
Tessera, Inc.
CONTACT: Michael C. Perry, Investor and Media Relations of Tessera,Inc., +1-206-223-2714, or mperry@tesserainc.com
Web site: http://www.tesserainc.com/