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Miraculins Successfully Verifies Colorectal Biomarker Results |
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01 Jun 2006 |
WINNIPEG, Canada | May 31, 2006 | Miraculins Inc. (TSX VENTURE: MOM), a biotechnology company engaged in the discovery and development of products for select cancers, is pleased to announce that it has successfully verified the diagnostic value of the colorectal biomarkers acquired from Europroteome AG as part of its intellectual property purchase.
Utilizing patient samples obtained from the European Tumor Sample Institute gGmbH, Miraculins was able to verify the utility of its colorectal biomarkers for diagnosing colorectal cancer. By using these biomarkers with Miraculins' BEST™ Platform, the Company was able to correctly identify cancer positives and those without cancer with a sensitivity and specificity of greater than 80% and 80%, respectively. These results were verified on samples obtained from patients that were formerly part of the biomarker discovery work and intellectual property filings of Europroteome. The next step for these markers will be validation in a larger, independent sample set.
"The reliable reproduction of the Europroteome results is a tremendous confirmation of the value we received in our acquisition and a tremendous step forward in advancing our growing pipeline of biomarkers towards commercialization", stated Dr. Jim Charlton, President of Miraculins Inc. "Current diagnostic methods for colorectal cancer are difficult and unpleasant, and we are excited to be developing this non-invasive, safe and effective diagnostic method."
Colorectal cancer is one of the most prevalent cancers in North America, with over 150,000 new cases diagnosed each year. The American Cancer Society recommends annual screening for colorectal cancer for all persons over 50 years of age. Current diagnostic methods for colorectal cancer are predominantly image based, invasive, and expensive, resulting in low compliance in the general population. The diagnosis of colorectal cancer could be dramatically improved with the availability of reliable biomarker based tests.
The purchase of Europroteome's intellectual property assets saw Miraculins acquire discovery stage markers implicated in colorectal, breast, gastric, pancreatic and numerous epithelial cancers. Miraculins is presently evaluating the potential for advancing additional cancer diagnostic projects.
About Miraculins Inc.
Miraculins is a biotechnology company focused on commercializing products for the diagnosis and treatment of select cancers. The medical community is in need of markers that can reliably show the presence of cancer. The importance of tumour markers for "common" cancers has been widely recognized and acknowledged by cancer experts and leading groups such as the National Cancer Institute and the American Cancer Society.
The Company's lead product focuses on improving the diagnosis of prostate cancer, and additional research programs focus on the diagnosis of colorectal and breast cancers. These programs have produced a series of markers that have demonstrated statistical relevance in detecting cancer.
Certain information contained in this press release may be forward-looking and is subject to risks and uncertainties. Although the Company believes that the expectations contained herein are reasonable, it can give no assurances such forward-looking statements will prove correct. Information is provided from sources deemed to be reliable.
The TSX Venture Exchange has neither approved nor disapproved the contents of this press release.
Contacts:
Miraculins Inc.
Christopher J. Moreau
Vice President, Business Development
(204) 477-7599
(204) 453-1546 (FAX)
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www.miraculins.com
CHF Investor Relations
Linda Armstrong
Vice President
(416) 868-1079, Ext 229
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SOURCE: Miraculins, Inc |
