Up until now, there have been no reliable serum tumour markers for mesothelioma, which means that diagnosis, screening and monitoring responses to treatment have been difficult
Fujirebio Diagnostics (FDI) and Cisbio international have announced a distribution agreement for European distribution of FDI's new blood test for mesothelioma, Mesomark.
This agreement, the second for FDI, continues the worldwide commercial rollout of Mesomark.
Earlier this year, FDI launched Mesomark in Australia where the company signed a contract with an Australian-based distributor.
"We are pleased to join with Cisbio international to introduce Mesomark in Europe," said Paul Touhey, president and COO for Fujirebio Diagnostics.
"This agreement, combined with our recent announcement in Australia, further demonstrates FDI's commitment to bring new, innovative and noninvasive diagnostic technologies to the world".
"The inclusion of a highly innovative cancer diagnostic like Mesomark into our portfolio helps us maintain our leadership position in tumour markers in Europe," commented Berthold Baldus, managing director of Cisbio international.
"We are proud of this important partnership with Fujirebio Diagnostics".
Mesothelioma is a highly aggressive form of cancer in which fluid accumulates between the lining of the lungs and chest cavity.
It is primarily caused by work-related asbestos exposure and has an average latency period of up to 75 years.
Over 100 million people worldwide have been occupationally exposed to asbestos in the past five decades.
It is estimated that 10,000 new cases are diagnosed each year among industrialised countries, and recent epidemiological studies predict an increase in this number in the next few decades.
Up until now, there have been no reliable serum tumour markers for mesothelioma, which means that diagnosis, screening and monitoring responses to treatment have been difficult.
In addition, mesothelioma is notoriously resistant to chemotherapy and radiotherapy, and is rarely cured by radical surgery.
Mesomark, a manual enzyme-linked immunosorbent assay (Elisa) for managing mesothelioma, works by identifying a group of molecular markers called soluble mesothelin-related proteins (SMRP).
These proteins are released into the bloodstream by mesothelioma cells.
Because SMRPs can be elevated for several years before an actual diagnosis of mesothelioma can be made, Mesomark will help in the routine monitoring of asbestos exposed individuals who are at greatest risk for developing mesothelioma.
