OPKO Health, Inc. has licensed International Health Technology, Ltd. (Cambridge, England) to offer OPKO's panel of kallikrein biomarkers and associated algorithm for the detection of prostate cancer, in a laboratory setting in Ireland, the U.K., Sweden and Denmark.
Kallikrein biomarkers break down proteins into smaller units. Prostate-specific antigens are in the group of chemicals. These biomarkers may also be useful in detecting ovarian cancer.
Studies in the U.S. and Europe over 10 years in more than 10,000 men have found that these biomarkers can predict the likelihood of men suspected of having prostate cancer actually having it, eliminating by 50 percent the need for unnecessary biopsies and surgeries, which can result in bleeding and other complications.
Additional studies found that men who had biopsies of their prostates had a hospitalization rate of almost seven percent following the procedure, compared to less than three percent in men who didn’t.
International Health Technology reportedly has close ties with some of the largest private hospitals chains in the U.K. and abroad, and access to world class private facilities and specialists to provide testing services.
This year, approximately 241,740 new cases of prostate cancer will be diagnosed and 28,170 men will die of it.
And as men age, it is very common. About one in six will be diagnosed in his lifetime, and possibly no man will avoid prostate cancer if he lives long enough.
Most men are terrified of this disease as it can result in impotence and incontinence.
Usually, the disease is diagnosed in men 65 or older. Rarely is it diagnosed in men under 40, though it does happen.
The good news is that many research efforts are pursuing better ways to treat the disease. Though many opt for surgical removal of their prostates when cancer is found, robotic-assisted surgery now makes it a much less invasive procedure, with fewer complications, less bleeding and scarring, and quicker recovery times.
"The partnership with IHT will offer OPKO a unique opportunity for our kallikrein panel in select initial markets," said Phillip Frost, M.D., chairman and CEO of OPKO Health. "We believe this technology will enable IHT to provide the patients they serve with better and more efficient healthcare, while lowering overall costs. We hope eventually that this panel will become the standard of care in prostate cancer screening."
Edited by
Braden Becker
