2cureX expands its activities to preventive cancer medicine
Colorectal cancer (CRC) is the second deadliest cancer in Europe. The European Council of Ministers has recommended that all member-states implement population-wide screening for CRC for citizens between 50 and 75 years of age. The American Cancer Society even suggested in 2018 to start screening earlier, at the age of 45. In Denmark such screening was implemented in 2014. In 2016, 335.760 individuals were tested in Denmark, 6.500 of these individuals had colon adenomas classified as medium to high risk for later development of CRC.
2cureX and University Hospital Bispebjerg are now launching a feasibility study using IndiTreat® to identify existing or novel drugs that can prevent cancer precursors (adenomas) to develop into full-blown colorectal cancer. The study has been approved by the Danish National Committee on Health Research Ethics. The study is an investigator-initiated trial where University Hospital Bispebjerg will cover the costs related to colonoscopy and 2cureX will cover costs of running the IndiTreat® test. 2cureX will receive adenoma tissue samples that are removed from individuals participating in the Danish screening program. Patient recruitment will be initiated in March, 2019. Bispebjerg Hospital is one of the largest colonoscopy centers in Denmark. With the use of the IndiTreat® test, 2cureX will establish micro-adenomas and test current (e.g. COX inhibitors) and novel investigational drugs for their ability to prevent adenomas to reappear and to develop into colorectal cancer.
Principal Investigator and National Coordinator of CRC screening, Morten Rasmussen says
“The CRC screening program in Denmark is a success with a high acceptance (65%) from individuals to deliver a stool sample. 7% of the tested individuals are subsequently offered a colonoscopy where we remove adenomas in 49%. It will be a breakthrough if we after adenoma removal can offer the patients a medical treatment that will lower the risk of adenoma recurrence and development of CRC. I therefore look forward to see the results of the IndiTreat® testing”.
Executive Director of Digestive Cancers Europe (DICE), Stefan Gijssels comments
“For us, the umbrella patient organisation representing the voice of colorectal cancer patients in Europe, screening programmes for CRC are essential to improve the overall survival of CRC patients. Too often the patients are diagnosed late in their disease progression. Today 56% of colorectal cancer is diagnosed at the late stages III or IV, which is shocking for a disease which may take as long as ten years to develop. Combining general screening programmes with innovative tests for drugs that will prevent adenoma reoccurrence and CRC development may have a major impact. We fully support this initiative”.
CEO of 2cureX, Ole Thastrup comments
“2cureX is currently running clinical trials in late stage (stage IIIc and IV) colorectal, ovarian and pancreatic cancer. These trials are running according to plan, and with the CRC study we recently received very positive interim results. It is extremely exciting for us also to be involved in premalignant disease with the aim of identifying a preventive cancer treatment. I believe that Preventive Cancer Medicine will become a major focus area in the future. I thus foresee the use of IndiTreat® in large screening programs to select the right predictive treatment for the individual adenoma patient as a highly attractive new business opportunity for 2cureX”.
For more information about 2cureX:
| Ole Thastrup, Chief Executive Officer | Maarten van der Linden, Chief Business Officer |
| E-mail: ot@2curex.com | E-mail: ml@2curex.com |
| Telephone: +45 22115399 | Telephone: +45 22902469 |
| www.2curex.com |
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Sedermera Fondkommission
E-mail: ca@sedermera.se
Telephone: +46 40 615 14 15
This information is information that 2cureX AB is obliged to make public pursuant to the EU Market Abuse Regulation. The information was submitted for publication, through the agency of the contact person set out above, on March 12st, 2019.
About 2cureX
2cureX has developed a test called IndiTreat® (Individual Treatment Design), which is a patented method for selecting the right drug for the right patient. IndiTreat® establishes thousands of 3D micro-tumors that are functionally similar to the patient’s tumor. From a large panel of approved cancer treatments IndiTreat® selects the best treatment for the individual patient. IndiTreat® is expected to become a standard tool in the treatment design for cancer patients.
IndiTreat® is currently being clinically validated in colorectal, ovarian and pancreatic cancer.
The company is listed at the Nasdaq First North stock exchange in Stockholm (symbol “2CUREX”).
About Digestive Cancers Europe (DICE) (https://digestivecancers.eu)
DICE is a European patient organization with focus on digestive cancer (primarily colorectal, pancreatic and gastric cancer.
Goals for DICE:
- To make a coherent and sustained effort with all stakeholders, nationally and internationally, to prevent, diagnose and treat digestive cancers in Europe
- To empower digestive cancer patients and their informal carers to have a voice
- To align all stakeholders to bridge the gap from the current to achieve the best possible status, and encourage new policies and innovation beyond best practices
- To take the lead in driving progress in digestive cancers