NYU Study Validates Use Of Fujirebio Diagnostics' MESOMARK Test For Monitoring An Asbestos-Linked Cancer

SOURCE: Fujirebio Diagnostics, Inc., Malvern, PA

March 10, 2007 - There is new hope for the thousands of Americans suffering from mesothelioma, an aggressive form of cancer linked to asbestos exposure. Results from a recent study conducted by researchers at New York University (NYU) School of Medicine show the MESOMARK Assay, the world's first and only in vitro test for monitoring mesothelioma developed by Fujirebio Diagnostics, Inc., is an effective way to measure proteins within the blood that reflect changes in disease. The findings represent a major milestone in the management of mesothelioma, as the test may enable doctors to more accurately monitor patients for treatment.

Mesothelioma causes fluid to accumulate in the sac lining of the chest, the abdominal cavity or the area around the chest. Primarily caused by work-related asbestos exposure, physicians have long suspected it could be identified by the presence of soluble mesothelin-related proteins (SMRP) that are released into the blood stream by diseased cells. Previously, these proteins have been difficult to detect, and patient monitoring required a comprehensive series of diagnostic tests. Even the most advanced tests available are of limited utility in evaluating changes in tumor volume, a key factor for monitoring patient status and response to therapies.

"As a relatively rare and often misdiagnosed disease, mesothelioma has been somewhat of a mystery to the medical world," said Dr. Harvey Pass. "For years, we've believed SMRP played a role in the classification of the disease, but there was no accurate way to confirm it. Our findings not only show that SMRP is indeed a valid biomarker for mesothelioma, but also justify further research as a prospective screening test. As we continue to learn more about this complex disease through tests such as Fujirebio Diagnostics' MESOMARK Assay, we might finally be on our way towards improving survival rates and the quality of life for patients diagnosed with this aggressive and often fatal disease."

"Mesothelioma can take as long as 75 years to develop after exposure to asbestos, yet once it does, it rapidly grabs hold of a person's body. In fact, there is only about a 10 percent survival rate for patients after three years following diagnosis," said Dr. W. Jeffrey Allard, vice president and chief scientific officer of Fujirebio Diagnostics. "The MESOMARK test may give physicians a way to determine how rapidly the disease is progressing and if they're administering the appropriate treatment regimen. In the future, our hope is that it could one day lead to detection of mesothelioma at an early and potentially curable stage."

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