Zetiq, a subsidiary of Bio-Light Ltd. (TASE:BOLT), reports the successful completion of a clinical trial to validate feasibility of early identification of cervical cancer.

The trial was conducted on cervical smears collected from 74 subjects at Meir MC and Macabbi health services in Israel. The collected samples were processed with the advanced liquid based cytology method, and examined using 3 methods: staining with the traditional widely used Pap method, testing to identify the presence of the HPV virus that causes the disease, and staining with the Zetiq method. The analysis of the specimens was conducted by the company’s team as well as by an independent professional.

According to the results of the trial, the testing utilizing company’s CellDetect™ technology has an average sensitivity of 90% to track and identify pre cancerous (dysplastic) cells, and a specificity of 74%. This mentioned sensitivity was found to be higher then the sensitivity of the traditional Pap test, routinely used today with over 300 million tests conducted world wide, and similar to that of the test for HPV, the virus that can under certain circumstances cause the disease. The specificity of the company’s test was similar to that of the Pap test and significantly higher then that of the HPV test.

Dr. Adi Elkeles, CEO of Zetiq Technologies Ltd says: “we have successfully completed this important milestone which demonstrates the company’s ability to develop a simple and effective diagnostic tool for early identification of cervical cancer.”

“The results of this trial complement the previous successful trial completed earlier this year for the identification of cervical cancer in Biopsies. The combined results show that Zetiq has complementary products able to screen as well as diagnose cervical cancer, offering high detection accuracy with a cost effective process. These clinical findings attest to the range of applications for the company’s technology,” adds Dr. Elkeles.

Cervical cancer is the second leading cause of cancer in women world wide. Early identification of the disease greatly increases the survival rate.

The screening methods currently available for the disease have succeeded in reducing mortality rate in the Western world, where performed, but their error rate is high and the cost of follow up tests is substantial. To note, the error rates of the Pap test in screening reach 30-50%.

There are also tests currently available to identify the HPV virus, which can cause the disease. These tests are not specific as most women that carry the virus do not develop cervical cancer, thus tests that identify the virus do not solve the need for a reliable screen test.

Screen tests for cervical cancer are performed routinely in the western world, and in spite of their draw backs have a large market that in the US alone reaches above 1.5 Billion dollars. In developing countries there is no effective screening test available today to identify cervical cancer.

Dr. Ami Eyal - CEO of Bio-Light: “The results of this trial confirm that Zetiq has the potential to develop novel and effective products for early diagnosis of cervical cancer and probably other indications. The company plans to complete the development of its product for screening to early identify cervical cancers, and to proceed towards international collaborations and product commercialization.”

Source
Zetiq Technologies Ltd.