NEWTON, Mass.--(BUSINESS WIRE)--April 6, 2006--The clinical performance of Matritech’s (Amex: MZT - News) NMP22® BladderChek® Test, a point-of-care urine test, in detecting occult bladder cancers was presented today at the 21st Annual Congress of the European Association of Urology (EAU) in Paris. The NMP22 BladderChek Test was reported to detect all of the cancers that occurred in the upper urinary tract of patients with risk factors or symptoms of bladder cancer. Cystoscopy (a visual examination of the interior of the bladder using a scope inserted through the urethra) did not identify these tumors because they were outside the viewing area of the instrument. The tumors were also not detected by cytology, a commonly used laboratory test.
This new information was presented by H. Barton Grossman, M.D., Professor and Deputy Chairman, Department of Urology, University of Texas, MD Anderson Cancer Center at a podium session at the EAU Congress. The EAU is the largest scientific urological association in Europe, with over 16,000 members. Its mission is to promote urology in Europe and worldwide.
Dr. Grossman is the lead author of two articles which appeared in the Journal of the American Medical Association (JAMA) in February, 2005 and January, 2006 evaluating the NMP22 BladderChek point-of-care test in both the diagnosis and monitoring of bladder cancer. His presentation at the EAU is an updated analysis of the diagnostic study.
“Our challenge as urologists is to improve detection of bladder cancer. Urinary tract cancer is the second most common urological malignancy after prostate cancer. In addition to detecting over three times as many tumors as the conventional urine test, cytology, the NMP22 test identified cancers in areas cystoscopy could not evaluate. As these data show, a cystoscopic examination is excellent, but not perfect. The combination of the NMP22 test with cystoscopy detected significantly more cancers than cystoscopy alone. Because of the inaccessibility of the upper urinary tract, accurate diagnosis can be challenging. Adding the NMP22 test improved detection. Moreover, the NMP22 BladderChek Test is easy to use in an office setting, provides an answer in half an hour, and is inexpensive.”
These conclusive results are consistent with similar findings that were previously reported in the JAMA articles.
About the NMP22® BladderChek® Test
The NMP22® BladderChek® Test was developed and commercialized by Matritech, a leading developer of protein-based diagnostic products for the early detection of cancer. The NMP22® BladderChek® Test detects elevated levels of the NMP22 protein marker in a single urine sample. Most healthy individuals have very small amounts of the NMP22 protein marker in their urine, but bladder cancer patients commonly have elevated NMP22 protein marker levels, even at early stages of the disease. A study published in the Journal of the American Medical Association (JAMA) in January, 2006 demonstrated that the NMP22 BladderChek Test used in combination with cystoscopy (a visual examination of the bladder), detected 99% of bladder malignancies. The NMP22 BladderChek Test also detected cancers that were missed during an initial cystoscopic examination, most of which were high grade. In an evaluation of clinical results of women with symptoms or risk factors for bladder cancer, the test was shown to detect 100% of the aggressive tumors, one of which was muscle invasive.
The NMP22® BladderChek® Test, a painless and noninvasive assay, is the only in-office test approved by the FDA for the diagnosis of bladder cancer. The BladderChek® Test, which is reimbursed by Medicare and other medical insurers, is more cost effective than cell-based laboratory cytology tests. It is approved for use in a physician’s office with results available in 30 minutes - during the patient visit, allowing a rapid, accurate and cost-effective way to aid in the detection of bladder cancer.
About Matritech
Matritech is using its patented proteomics technology to develop diagnostics for the detection of a variety of cancers. The Company’s first two products, the NMP22® Test Kit and NMP22® BladderChek® Test, have been FDA approved for the monitoring and diagnosis of bladder cancer. The NMP22 BladderChek Test is based on Matritech’s proprietary nuclear matrix protein (NMP) technology, which correlates levels of NMPs in body fluids to the presence of cancer. Beginning with a patent portfolio licensed exclusively from the Massachusetts Institute of Technology (MIT), Matritech’s patent portfolio has grown to more than 15 other U.S. patents. In addition to the NMP22 protein marker utilized in the NMP22 Test Kit and NMP22 BladderChek Test, the Company has discovered other proteins associated with cervical, breast, prostate, and colon cancer. The Company’s goal is to utilize these protein markers to develop, through its own research staff and through strategic alliances, clinical applications to detect cancer. More information about Matritech is available at www.matritech.com.
Statement under the Private Securities Litigation Reform Act
Any forward-looking statements relate to the Company’s current expectations of the Company’s product sales and technology. Actual results may differ materially from those predicted in such forward-looking statements due to the risks and uncertainties inherent in the Company’s business, including without limitation risks and uncertainties in obtaining and maintaining regulatory approval, market acceptance of and continuing demand for the Company’s products, the impact of competitive products and pricing, and technical challenges in completing product and technology development. Please refer to the risk factors detailed in the Company’s periodic reports and registration statements as filed with the Securities and Exchange Commission. These forward-looking statements are neither promises nor guarantees. There can be no assurance that the Company’s expectations for its products or future financial performance will be achieved. Readers are cautioned not to place undue reliance on these forward-looking statements, which speak only as of the date hereof. Matritech undertakes no responsibility to revise or update any such forward-looking information.
Contact:
for Matritech Kathleen O’Donnell, 617-928-0820 x270
Source: Matritech
