Member Article

Sunderland's Arquer to begin six month cancer-countering study

Sunderland-based Arquer Diagnostics Ltd, has announced the start of a six month clinical study to optimise the effectiveness of its Mcm5-ELISA test, used in the diagnosis of recurrent bladder cancer.

The diagnostic company, based at the North East Business and Innovation Centre, is developing a simple urine based test which aims to reduce the number of cystoscopies each bladder cancer patient undergoes.

Focused on the development and commercialisation of a diagnostic test for bladder and prostate cancer, Arquer’s Mcm5-ELISA detects the existence of a marker for the presence of dividing cancer cells in urine. The company will commercialise ELISA and Point-of-Care urine tests for cancer for use in the urology clinic, hospital lab and the GP’s surgery.

Arquer’s diagnostic test originates from work conducted by Cambridge University and Cancer Research Technology(CRT), the development and commercialisation arm of Cancer Research UK, which has been built upon during the last couple of years by the Arquer team led by CEO, Dr. Ian Campbell and Chairman, Dr. Sandy Primrose.

Dr Ian Campbell, CEO, Arquer Diagnostics, said: “We are committed to improving outcomes for bladder and prostate cancer patients.

“At present, over 150,000 cases of bladder cancer are diagnosed in Europe annually, and this number is increasing.

“The health economic benefits of our Mcm5-ELISA test would enable accurate, non-invasive close monitoring of the disease at low cost.”

For an in-depth report on Arquer’s Mcm5-ELISA developments click here.