New Positron Emission Tomography (PET) Biomarker NVB-64 Visualizes Malignant Breast Tumors

New Positron Emission Tomography (PET) Biomarker NVB-64 Visualizes Malignant
Breast Tumors

PARK CITY, Utah, Oct. 29 /PRNewswire/ -- Researchers at Thomas Jefferson
University in Philadelphia, PA, supported in part by NuView Life Sciences,
have published an article in the Journal of Nuclear Medicine reporting
preclinical results of a novel PET biomarker designed to selectively detect
malignant breast tumors[1]. "All tumors detected with the new biomarker were
malignant and expressed the targeted VPAC1 receptors located on the plasma
membrane of the tumor cells." These results have led to initiation of clinical
trials, supported by NuView, at Jefferson using this agent in patients with
known and suspected breast cancer.

To date, the unsettling report that a patient has a "suspicious mass" on an
annual mammogram has automatically dictated a costly and invasive needle
biopsy. Soon there may be a choice of care in selecting a diagnostic
procedure to determine the benign or malignant nature of the mass. Rather
than a protracted waiting period to locate a clinician, find time to schedule
a biopsy, endure a painful procedure and wait additional days for lab results
to be reported; novel procedures such as a NVB64-PET scan may eventually be
available to discriminate between malignant and benign lesions. The results
of benign or malignant status of the mass could immediately be available
without the anxiety of the delay normally associated with a lab processing and
reporting of results from a needle biopsy.[2]

Since 1985, surgical biopsy has been the mainstay of diagnostics for
evaluating nonpalpable mammographic abnormalities. In the early 1990's needle
biopsy of the breast was introduced and quickly became the preferred method of
breast cancer detection. Not until 2004 was the first non-surgical procedure
looking towards breast cancer detection using Positron Emission Tomography
(PET) with 18fluorodeoxyglucose (FDG) approved for use in patients. FDG-PET
has two significant drawbacks: 1) FDG-PET leaves a frustrating 30% of tumors
undetected; and 2) FDG cannot reliably distinguish between benign and
malignant tumors.

The significant advance of NVB-64 is the recognition of genetic changes at the
cellular level, as a genomic biomarker, rather than the overly generalized
metabolic markers found with FDG.

Nearly as important as the human implications are the enormous financial
ramifications. Lead investigator Mathew Thakur Ph.D. Professor of Radiology
and Director of the Laboratories of Radiopharmaceutical Research and Molecular
Imaging at Thomas Jefferson University Hospital says, "The use of NVB64-PET
scan in the future may minimize the need for unnecessary biopsy of benign
tumors." Currently, nearly 6 million such biopsies are performed annually in
the United States, at an estimated annual cost of $30 billion. Approximately
80% or 4.8 million biopsies, demonstrate benign pathology.

The biomarkers NuView has in development can, with alteration of the
radionuclide attached to the compound, change them from a diagnostic to a
targeted therapy, or a pairing of a target specific diagnostic and therapy.
NuView Medical Director Peter S. Conti, MD, PhD adds, "Development of targeted
diagnostics that can be modified to also carry therapeutic isotopes can lead
to unique agents that can broaden the range of therapies available for cancer
patients."

Anticipated Benefits of NVB-64:
-- Same day, immediate confirmation of the patient having either benign
or
malignant breast tumor(s).
-- Choice of care in selecting a screening method to determine the
malignant or benign status of a mass found on a mammogram.

-- Significant cost savings to patients and insurers. The cost of the
NVB64-PET scan is anticipated at $2,000. This translates to a 60%
cost
savings over a typical needle biopsy of the breast.

For patients, clinicians and physicians NVB-64 could represent a tremendous
step forward in personalizing medical management. Future advances in this
genomic biomarker arena hold great promise for both diagnostics and treatment
therapies.

For more information please contact:

NuView Life Sciences
Erin Egan
435-647-9758 Office
866-577-7774 Toll Free
info@NuViewInfo.com

SOURCE NuView Life Sciences

Erin Egan of NuView Life Sciences, +1-435-647-9758, 1-866-577-7774,
info@NuViewInfo.com