Tag: EDP

EDP Biotech Awarded Federal QTDP Grant

Posted by Ryan Willis – November 4, 2010

Knoxville, Tenn. – EDP Biotech Corporation was awarded a $244,000 grant from the federal government under the Qualifying Therapeutic Discovery Project program as a result of the company’s work in the development of their ColoMarker test™, an early detection blood test for colon cancer.  The QTDP program was designed to make one-time awards to certain biotech companies that show significant potential to produce new therapies; address unmet medical needs; prevent, detect, or treat chronic or acute diseases or conditions; reduce health care costs, or significantly advance the goal of curing cancer within the next 30 years. 

The ColoMarker test developed by EDP Biotech identifies a unique biomarker to help physicians better identify patients most in need of follow-up detection methods such as colonoscopies. By detecting colon cancer in its earliest stages when the survivability rate is at its highest, the ColoMarker test has the potential to save thousands of lives each year.

“This is exciting news for our company as we continue our work with the ColoMarker test and the early detection of colon cancer,” said Tom Boyd, CEO of EDP Biotech Corporation.  “We are very grateful the federal government has recognized the value of our company’s work and will be supporting us in our efforts as we continue to move forward.”

The QTDP grant program was created by Congress in May of 2010, under the Patient Protection and Affordable Care Act. 

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About EDP Biotech Corporation

EDP Biotech (EDP) is a medical device company focused on the development and sale of immunodiagnostic tests for both humans and animals.  EDP utilizes more than 30 years of research and development in the identification and purification of proteins present in the early stages of biological changes for production of in vitro diagnostics tests whose primary target is the development of early detection products.

Media Contact:
Ryan Willis
(865) 584-0550
rwillis@ackermannpr.com

Researchers announce medical breakthrough with simple, inexpensive blood test for colon cancer

Posted by Shane Rhyne – December 15, 2009

Knoxville, Tenn. (December 15, 2009) – Medical researchers with EDP Biotech Corporation (EDP) have captured national attention with their revolutionary new technology for a simple blood test to detect early-stage colon cancer.

Following the success of its pre-clinical trials for the ColoMarker™ assay, EDP has filed a patent on the biomarker, CA11-19, and all aspects of its use.  Via an inexpensive blood test, ColoMarker™ will detect colon cancer in its earliest, most curable stages.

“American Cancer Society statistics show that when colon cancer is detected in its early stages, more than 90% of patients will survive.  If not detected until the later stages, fewer than 10% will survive.  ColoMarker™ detects colon cancer in these early, highly curable stages,” says Kevin Jones, Ph.D., Chief Scientific Officer of EDP.

According to American Cancer Society statistics, fewer than 20% of Americans over the age of 50 who should be screened for colon cancer, actually are.  With the use of ColoMarker™, a simple and inexpensive blood test, the number of people being screened would likely increase dramatically, leading to a decline in deaths due to colon cancer.

In pre-clinical trials, ColoMarker™ successfully detected the early stages (I, II, and III) of colon cancer.  In tests of 2,370 blood samples, ColoMarker™ showed an accuracy rate of >99% for detecting colon cancer in these early stages. “ColoMarker™ could lead to a radical shift in the way we detect colon cancer,” adds Dr. Jones.

National researchers who study colorectal cancer are closely monitoring emerging technologies such as ColoMarker™.  Their findings are encouraging; just last week, the American Cancer Society, the National Cancer Institute, the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention and the North American Association of Central Cancer Registries released an optimistic report about the expected decline in deaths from colon cancer due to anticipated improvements in early screening methods.

Dr. Jones states, “The use of ColoMarker™ as a screening test could save tens of thousands of American lives every year and billions of dollars in healthcare costs.”  EDP Biotech is now moving forward expeditiously to get ColoMarker™ through the Food and Drug Administration clearance process.

For more information on ColoMarker™ or EDP Biotech Corporation, contact Jeff Hooper, Ackermann PR, and (865) 584-0550.

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Media Contact

Jeff Hooper, Ackermann PR
jhooper@ackermannpr.com
(865) 584-0550

About EDP Biotech Corporation
EDP Biotech Corporation (EDP) is a medical device company focused on the development and sale of immunodiagnostic tests for both humans and animals. EDP utilizes more than 30 years of research and development in identification and purification of proteins present in the early stages of biological changes for production of in vitro diagnostic tests whose primary target is Early Detection Products.