Early stage cancer detection test developer Oncimmune Holdings PLC (LON:ONC) has reported positive interim data from a lung cancer screening trial conducted with NHS Scotland.
The study, using Oncimmune's Early CDT-Lung test, is the largest randomised trial for the early detection of lung cancer using biomarkers ever conducted.
The group said the data, which will be presented at the International Association for the Study of Lung Cancer's 17th World Conference in Vienna, remains encouraging with early detection of tumours four times more likely with EarlyCDT-Lung followed by computed tomography (CT) screening than current standard of care.
The interim results showed that 599 (9.8%) of the test group had a positive test with 275 found to have lung nodules larger than 8mm.
Oncimmune said the study, which is now fully recruited with 12,210 patients, showed that 16 lung cancers have been detected, 75% of which were at early stage.
Professor Frank Sullivan, chief investigator of the ECLS Study said: "The results continue to be very encouraging and suggest it could be possible to detect early stage lung cancers sooner than with current methods.
“We look forward to completing the study and presenting full results, including the control group, after the full follow-up period."
At present, approximately 20% of lung cancers are detected incidentally at an early stage, for example, during a scan for heart disease; however, the remaining 80% present symptomatically, which may be up to four years after it could have been detected by the EarlyCDT-Lung test followed by CT screening.
The final study results will be published after all patients have had two years of follow-up CT scans and these are expected in 2019.
The firm said the study results will enable the NHS to make a decision about whether to offer the EarlyCDT-Lung test as a nationwide screening test in the future and may enable the adoption of EarlyCDT-Lung screening by other countries.
Geoffrey Hamilton-Fairley, Oncimmune’s chief execugtive officer, said: “Today’s positive interim data add further to the growing evidence that the EarlyCDT-Lung test has the potential to play a significant role in the early detection of lung cancer and save lives and money.”
Oncimmune only joined Aim back in May after placing shares at a price of 130p each. This morning the stock was changing hands at 142.5p, up 16.5p, or over 13% on last night’s close.