Matritech's NMP22(R) BladderChek(R) Test Being Used in Screening San Francisco Firefighters for Bladder Cancer
24 Avril 2007 - 7:30PM
Business Wire
The city of San Francisco and its fire department (SFFD) are
responding to the alarm that firefighters have an increased risk
for bladder cancer and death from the disease by providing free
bladder cancer screening to all its current and retired
firefighters. The NMP22� BladderChek� Test, a point-of-care urine
test, developed and marketed by Matritech (Amex: MZT) is being used
in the screening program. San Francisco is the first major city to
fund and provide free annual testing for bladder cancer to its
firefighters. To date, over 900 firefighters have been tested with
the NMP22 BladderChek Test and more than 1,000 have completed
voluntary cancer screening questionnaires. The San Francisco
Firefighters Cancer Prevention Foundation released information
today about the bladder cancer screening program at a press
conference at the San Francisco city hall. About three hundred
firefighters were in attendance. Mayor Gavin Newsome stood with the
firefighters and spoke of his commitment and the efforts of his
administration to provide the funding for the bladder cancer
screening program and the NMP22 BladderChek Tests. The SFFD will be
offering screening for bladder cancer annually. Stephen D. Chubb,
Matritech�s Chairman and CEO said, �This action by the city of San
Francisco and the San Francisco Fire Department to safeguard the
health and welfare of its members is exemplary.� Mr. Chubb added,
�The city, the San Francisco Firefighters Cancer Prevention
Foundation, and firefighters Local 798 recognize that the key to
saving lives from cancer is early detection. Education and routine
testing will achieve this objective. We�re pleased that the
BladderChek Test is part of this program.� The Foundation is
launching a campaign urging firefighters to be aware of their
potential risks for cancer and reminding them that screening may
save lives. Efforts to get the city to fund and start the screening
program were spearheaded by Tony Stefani, a cancer survivor who is
a retired captain in the San Francisco Fire Department, and Dr.
Marshall Stoller, professor and Vice Chairman, Department of
Urology, University of California, San Francisco (UCSF) School of
Medicine and urologist at the UCSF Medical Center. Captain (Ret.)
Stefani is the founder and Chairman of the Board of the San
Francisco Firefighters Cancer Prevention Foundation. Captain (Ret.)
Stefani said, �It�s a voluntary program right now, but we have had
about 1,000 people lining up to take the NMP22 BladderChek Test.
We�ve had more than our share of guys diagnosed with bladder
cancer. Hopefully, screening is going to save some lives.� Studies
have shown that people who have environmental and occupational
exposure to certain chemicals, burning material, and soot have a
higher risk for the cancer. Prolonged exposure to benzene compounds
found in burning debris is associated with bladder cancer risk.
Even though firefighters wear an air pack, once the fire is knocked
down, and they take their packs off, they are exposed to the
smoldering material. Dr. Stoller commented, �We began screening for
bladder cancer because it was apparent that there were a number of
our local firefighters diagnosed with the disease. Firefighters may
be at a higher risk for bladder cancer than most people. And this
was appearing to be the case in San Francisco. It seemed that we
might be able to do something about it, by detecting the cancer
early and evaluating the incidence and risk for the cancer in this
group of people.� He added, �The combination of a dipstick test to
check for microscopic blood and the NMP22 test fits our needs for
this screening program. They are easy tests to administer, have
proven sensitivity, and are relatively inexpensive. The results are
available on the spot. Our long term goal is to evaluate how many
of our firefighters are getting cancer and what types of cancer. In
the meantime, perhaps we are already saving lives by screening for
bladder cancer.� Voluntary screening of firefighters with the NMP22
BladderChek Test is also ongoing and has occurred in a number of
smaller communities throughout the country. Legislation providing
annual screening for firefighters is being considered in Rhode
Island, Florida, New York, and Massachusetts. Matritech�s NMP22
BladderChek Test is also being used in local wellness and
occupational health programs that are testing people at risk for
bladder cancer. Testing has occurred in Colorado, Wisconsin, Texas,
Michigan, Kentucky, New York, Massachusetts, Washington, DC and
Rhode Island. An analysis supporting the screening of high-risk
groups for bladder cancer with the NMP22 BladderChek Test was
reported in American Cancer Society�s journal Cancer (9/1/06) �
screening for bladder cancer in high risk individuals with the
NMP22 BladderChek Test could save lives and reduce overall medical
expenses. All other cancer screening programs save lives but
increase expenses. In a related article on screening for bladder
cancer (10/06), Edward Messing, M.D., Chairman of the Urology
Department, University of Rochester Medical Center reported that
his 14 year follow-up study demonstrated that screening reduced
bladder cancer mortality. Overall mortality was significantly lower
in screened patients (43%) compared to those whose were not
screened (74%). The tumors found by screening were diagnosed at
earlier stages, improving outcomes and thus decreasing the number
of bladder cancer deaths over time. About the NMP22� BladderChek�
Test The NMP22� BladderChek� Test was developed and commercialized
by Matritech, a leading developer and marketer 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 marker levels,
even at early stages of the disease. The NMP22� BladderChek� Test,
a painless and noninvasive assay, is the only in-office test
approved by the FDA for both the diagnosis and monitoring of
bladder cancer. It is used in a physician�s office, requires only
four drops of urine and results are available in 30 minutes �
during the patient visit, allowing a rapid and accurate way to aid
in the detection of bladder cancer. The NMP22 BladderChek Test is
reimbursed by Medicare and many medical insurers and has an average
cost of less than $30. It also has been shown to detect over three
times as many cancers as the commonly used laboratory based urine
cytology test. Two studies published in the Journal of the American
Medical Association (JAMA) in February 2005 and January 2006
reported on clinical data showing the NMP22 BladderChek Test used
in combination with cystoscopy for the diagnosis and monitoring of
bladder cancer detected up to 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 other clinical study analyses it was shown to detect 100%
of the aggressive tumors, one of which was muscle invasive, in
women with symptoms or risk factors for bladder cancer. It was also
reported to detect all the transitional cell cancers that occurred
in the upper urinary tract of patients with risk factors or
symptoms of bladder cancer. Cystoscopy did not identify these
tumors because they were outside the viewing area of the
instrument. About Matritech Matritech, a leading marketer and
developer of protein-based diagnostic products for the early
detection of cancer, 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 14 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 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
NMP22� products 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
including those 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 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.
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