Bertech’s Pivotal Trial Validates Blood Test for Colorectal Cancer

Biomarker effectively screens for colorectal cancer utilizing a simple enzyme-linked immunosorbent assay

Edmonton, AB | March 11, 2020

Bertech has completed initial pivotal trials of its blood-based enzyme-linked immunosorbent assay (ELISA) which utilizes its proprietary protein biomarker to screen and diagnose for colorectal cancer (CRC). Initial results from the trials show the novel assay has a sensitivity of 94% and specificity of 85%; this corroborates initial findings that the biomarker is expressed at higher levels in CRC patients. In comparison, the biomarker expression in healthy individuals, or patients with other cancers, was absent or present in low levels.

Colorectal cancer is one of the most prevalent cancers in North America. 165,000 people are diagnosed with the disease every year, resulting in nearly 60,000 deaths annually, between the United States and Canada. With an overall 5-year survival rate of 65%, colorectal cancer is the second leading cause of cancer death, accounting for almost 9% of all cancer deaths.

Colorectal cancer (CRC) develops slowly as premalignant polyps that grow on the bowel wall and eventually increase in size becoming cancerous. Colorectal cancer is curable if caught early, however, only 39% of CRCs are diagnosed at an early treatable stage due to low screening/detection rates caused by the characteristics of current screening tests. The standard tests, fecal occult blood test (FOBT), fecal immunochemical test (FIT), and colonoscopy, have a range of impediments which include patients having to collect their fecal sample, low accuracy and high cost.

“The results from this biomarker ELISA study mark a step forward in developing a cost effective, patient-friendly diagnostic for early stage detection of colorectal cancer,” says Bern Philip, President and Chief Executive Officer of Bertech.

About Bertech Pharma Ltd.

Bertech Pharma Ltd. is improving the ability of physicians to diagnose and treat colorectal cancer by developing solutions for every stage of the treatment lifecycle. Bertech innovates advanced clinical technologies to detect the disease in its early stages, assess the effectiveness of treatment modalities, provide post-treatment surveillance, and continues to develop new compounds to treat CRC more effectively.