Micromedic Technologies Ltd. (TASE:MCTC) has found two successes in a preliminary trial held as part of its strategic collaboration with the University of Florida for the development of innovative biomarkers for pharmacogentics, the improvement of drug effectiveness. The trial tested 47 patients with multiple myeloma receiving chemotherapy treatments Aredia and Zometa.
The objective of the trial is to test whether it is possible to use Micromedic's genetic biomarker to predict which patients will develop side effects from the drugs, namely significant deterioration in bones of the mouth. Currently, 13% of multiple myeloma patients receiving these two drugs develop this side effect.
Prof. Joseph Katz of the University of Florida's College of Dentistry and director of the university's Department of Oral Diagnostic Science oversaw the trial. Micromedic's genetic biomarker found a group of patients that were 11.6 times more likely to develop the side effects, compared with the control group. Micromedic's goal is for its test to be conducted on every patient who is a candidate for the drugs, so that patients who are predicted to develop the side effect can be given alternative treatment or be given treatments in advance to prevent the side effect.
Micromedic will now conduct a further trial to confirm the findings.
The company has already conducted a number of initial trials for cancer diagnostics, and it recently began to license and commercialize its kits.
Micromedic's share fell 5.4% by midday today to NIS 2.89, giving a market cap of NIS 27 million.
Published by Globes [online], Israel business news - www.globes-online.com - on March 30, 2009
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