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Study results provide further evidence of
the potential of BQT® as a test for osteoporosis.
London,
UK, June 8th, 2007: Crescent
Diagnostics Ltd (“Crescent”), today announced the
publication of a recent study demonstrating the potential of
the Bone Quality Test, BQT® to diagnose osteoporosis.
More women
at risk can be screened with an accurate, simple to use test
which does not require a hospital visit.
Crescent is
conducting multiple clinical studies to investigate the ability
of the BQT® to detect osteoporosis and expand the screening of
women at risk. The most recent published study carried out at
the University of Limerick, Ireland compared the potential of
the BQT® to identify patients at risk of fracture with DXA, the
current reference standard that measures bone mineral density
(“BMD”). The study compared the fingernail clippings
of 169 patients, 39 with a history of fracture and the remainder
in a control group with no fracture history. The lower disulphide
content in nails obtained from patients with a history of fracture
was statistically significantly lower than in patients without
a history of fracture (p=0.025). 26 out of 39 subjects (67%)
with a history of fracture recorded values below the cut-off
value for disulphide content of the nail as measured by Raman
spectroscopy.
Commenting
on these findings Ernest Poku, Chief Executive Officer of Crescent
said, “We are pleased that these preliminary results confirm
the earlier clinical findings and show the potential of the BQT®
to aid the identification of individuals at risk of osteoporosis
at a much lower cost than current tests.”
Crescent recently began recruiting patients
for FRAN, a large multi-centre trial in the UK and Ireland. This
study aims to demonstrate the potential of the BQT® to evaluate
fracture risk in hundreds of post-menopausal women. The results
are expected in early 2008.
Mr. Poku explained that Crescent “now
plans to enter into dialogue with regulatory agencies to determine
the optimum route to market approval for the test”. The
company is planning to complete a Series A funding round in early
2008 to provide the funding to complete the BQT® regulatory process.
Crescent, founded in 2004, is a development
stage diagnostic company focused on advancing its BQT®. Low cost
accurate alternatives to DEXA are needed to enable wider osteoporosis
screening.
About Crescent
Diagnostics:
Crescent Diagnostics is redefining the diagnosis and treatment
of osteoporosis by developing the BQT®, a novel test which assesses
human fingernail structure as a surrogate marker for bone structure.
A BQT® Point of Care test could be simple and accurate enough to
enable wider population screening, addressing a market exceeding
$700m. Crescent Diagnostics has offices in Limerick, Ireland and
London, UK.
About Bone
Quality Test, BQT®:
The Bone Quality Test is a Raman spectroscopy analysis performed
on the nail in-situ or on a nail clipping. The results are highly
repeatable and the test can be delivered at the point of care cost
effectively. The BQT® addresses the need for more accurate osteoporosis
testing to reduce fractures in the community which costs billions
of dollars worldwide annually.
Media Contact:
Ernest Poku, CEO
Crescent Diagnostics Ltd.
Tel: + 44 20 3006 3107
E-mail: info@crescentds.com
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