Oncimmune begins study to bring 'EarlyCDT-Lung' to China

Oncimmune Holdings, alongside its partner Genostics Company, announced the start of a multi-centre case control study on early lung cancer detection for screening and nodules in the People's Republic of China on Friday, using an extended panel of autoantibodies to accommodate variations in the biomarkers expressed on cancer cells in Asian populations.

The AIM-traded firm said the study would be led by professor Bai, professor and chair of the department of pulmonary medicine at Zhongshan Hospital, Fudan University, and would study around 1,000 early lung cancers at five leading academic health centres across China.

It said the results were expected in the fourth quarter of 2019, and would be used to support Oncimmune's application for approval of ‘EarlyCDT-Lung’ with the China Food and Drug Administration.

“This study is part of our ongoing programme to support the introduction of EarlyCDT-Lung in China, which is progressing to schedule,” said Oncimmune chief executive officer Dr Adam M Hill.

“We welcome this initiative and the commitment of our partner Genostics in supporting the introduction of EarlyCDT-Lung into what is one of the world's largest markets.”

Dr Cheung To, chairman of Gene Group, added that for more than two decades, his company had been committed to bringing the “most cutting-edge” technologies and products into China.

“EarlyCDT-Lung is a unique and innovative product,” he explained.

“This China-wide validation study in the Chinese population will help with EarlyCDT-Lung's future effective commercialisation and accelerate the introduction of an early lung cancer screening program in China, benefiting Chinese patients and families.”