Incure Ltd., a portfolio company of Hadasit Bio-Holdings, yesterday announced that it has received approval of the patent underlying its technology for diagnosis and identification of metastases of various forms of cancer. This is a critical stage in the disease and early diagnosis is an important medical requirement for selecting the appropriate treatment for individual patients, checking the efficiency and mode of treatment, and increasing the odds for recovery.
Incure found that a gene known as PAR-1 is over-expressed in malignant growths and is present in direct proportion to the malignancy of the disease and the tumor’s tendency to metastasize. This makes the gene an effective target for therapeutic development.
The company’s diagnostic kit is based on its ability to locate this gene in blood samples from patients. What makes the kit unique is that it can identify the degree of malignancy and current stage of the disease from the patient’s blood samples, with no need for tissue samples (biopsy), as well as the ability to provide this information for a broad range of solid tumors. The technology was developed at Hadassah Ein Karem hospital by Dr. Rachel Bar-Shavit, the company’s CSO.
The patent that protects use of this unique method for diagnosis of malignant tumors was registered by the European Patent Office in the European countries affiliated with it as European patent number 0846263, on March 15, 2006. This patent is in addition to similar patents held by the company in the United States and Israel.
According to Stuart Bernstein, the company’s COO, “approval of the patent is a significant milestone for the company. It provides important protection for the technology and makes it possible for us to move ahead toward a clinical trial in human beings.”
Incure is a portfolio company of Hadasit Bio-Holdings Ltd. (HBL), which is listed on the Tel Aviv Stock Exchange (TASE : HDST).
For additional information contact:
Stuart Bernstein, COO
Incure Ltd.
Telephone: 02 677 8757
Fax: 02 6437712
stuart@hadasit.co.il | 
