DGAP-News

Epigenomics: US study suggests blood-based Septin9 CRC screening could save lives and be health-economically beneficial

DGAP-News: Epigenomics AG / Key word(s): Study
Epigenomics: US study suggests blood-based Septin9 CRC screening could
save lives and be health-economically beneficial

22.07.2013 / 10:30

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Press release

Epigenomics: US study suggests blood-based Septin9 CRC screening could save
lives and be health-economically beneficial

- CRC screening with blood-based Septin9 tests has potential to improve
screening uptake and adherence rates

- Septin9 testing could decrease colorectal cancer (CRC) incidence by 41%
and CRC mortality by 61% at optimal screening uptake rates

- Septin9 based screening shown to be cost-effective over no screening

Berlin, Germany, and U.S.A., July 22, 2013 - Epigenomics AG (Frankfurt
Prime Standard: ECX), the German-American cancer molecular diagnostics
company, today announced findings from a health economic study by Prof. Uri
Ladabaum, M.D., M.S., et al. from the Division of Gastroenterology and
Hepatology, Stanford University School of Medicine, USA.

According to the study, Septin9 testing provides potential for saving lives
while being health economically beneficial as an attractive screening
alternative to established methods for a population that would otherwise be
non-compliant to colorectal cancer screening.

The study, which was published in 'Cancer Epidemiology, Biomarkers &
Prevention', concluded that Septin9 tests would decrease CRC incidence by
41% and CRC mortality by 61% assuming optimal uptake. In addition, Septin9
tests have the potential to demonstrate significant economic benefits at
acceptable costs by increasing screening rates and improving adherence over
time compared to other strategies. At 75% adherence with the blood-based
Septin9 test, compared to under 20% with stool-based tests (FIT) per
screening cycle, Septin9 based CRC screening would be cost-effective. In
the comparison, current FIT tests would be more effective and less costly
than all other alternatives, assuming optimal uptake, adherence and
follow-up, but this has not yet been achieved in practice.

'Colorectal cancer is the third most common cancer globally and the second
most common cancer in industrialized countries. As observed in other cancer
indications, screening and early detection of cancers could decrease
mortality significantly. Although established screening strategies are very
effective and cost efficient, compliance rates are devastatingly low due to
the partly invasive and/or uncomfortable nature of the established
screening methods. At least one of three eligible US citizens does not
undergo CRC screening, resulting in more than 60% of CRC cases being