Hadasit Bio Holdings Ltd. (TASE:HDST) portfolio company Biomarker Technologies Ltd. has received Hadassah Medical Organization's ethics committee approval to begin a clinical trial for the early detection of colon cancer. Using routine blood testing procedures, the trial will investigate a large number of blood samples, in collaboration with Hadassah Ein Kerem Medical Center's oncology department, to test the effectiveness of the company's early diagnosis method for colon cancer.

Hadasit Bio also announced that it is extending a NIS 1.2 million convertible loan to Biomarker to complete its previous clinical trial, to identify and monitor breast cancer through blood tests, and to fund this latest colon cancer testing trial.

Biomarker develops molecular diagnostic tools based on innovative biomarkers to detect early stage cancer through routine blood tests. Hadasit hold 87.5% of Biomarker.

Hadasit's Bio's share price rose 1.13% in afternoon trading to NIS 0.98.

Published by Globes, Israel business news - www.globes-online.com - on March 6, 2011

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