Positive Evaluation of Parsortix System

RNS Number : 0845K

Angle PLC

25 July 2013

 



For immediate release

25 July 2013

ANGLE plc

("ANGLE" or "the Company")

POSITIVE EVALUATION OF PARSORTIX SYSTEM FROM

CANCER RESEARCH UK'S PATERSON INSTITUTE FOR CANCER RESEARCH 

ANGLE plc (AIM: AGL), the specialist medtech company, is pleased to announce further encouraging results from third party testing of its Parsortix non-invasive cancer diagnostic product.    

The Parsortix system is aimed at the isolation and characterisation of circulating tumour cells (CTCs) present in cancer patient blood samples based on the physical properties of CTCs rather than the presence of specific cell markers on CTCs.

The Parsortix system, comprising the PR1 machine and the GEN3 cassette, has been evaluated at Cancer Research UK's Paterson Institute for Cancer Research (the Paterson) within The University of Manchester.  Cancer cell lines were utilised that were known to give particularly good results with the existing FDA approved system as a result of their strong cell markers.  In control experiments, where these cell lines were "spiked" into healthy blood, the Parsortix device performed well and gave comparable enumeration to the existing FDA approved system using cell markers for CTC isolation. 

Ongoing clinical studies are now underway at the Paterson with blood samples from patients with lung cancer and melanoma to test whether the Parsortix system can contribute to the molecular characterisation of CTCs captured via a method independent of cell markers.  The Parsortix system, which incorporates physical separation of CTCs, is being used because both lung and melanoma CTCs are heterogeneous compromising any approach using a single cell surface marker for their capture.

In addition to the clinical studies, a pilot study at the Paterson is also evaluating the suitability of the Parsortix system for the analysis of small volumes of blood from mice harbouring human CTC derived tumours.  Preliminary results look promising with CTCs detected using the Parsortix system in mouse blood samples. Ongoing work is now focused on molecular analysis of CTCs harvested by the Parsortix system. 

The major advantages of the Parsortix system identified are that it is:

1)  Cell marker (epitope) independent - it does not rely on CTC cells expressing specific genes for isolation.  This has two advantages. Firstly, unlike the existing FDA approved system, it is applicable for all solid cancers including those with weak or no cell markers.  Secondly, it has the potential to capture intact, undamaged CTCs, which have not been subjected to antibody binding as part of the capture process. 

2)  "Plug and play" - the Parsortix system is easy to use and can be used with whole blood samples without any pre-processing of the blood such as red blood cell removal.   

3)  Operationally versatile - the Parsortix system can handle blood volumes of less than 1ml to over 10ml enabling applications that the FDA approved system cannot handle.   

4)  Biomarker compatible - cells can be harvested in a form suitable for molecular analysis.

The Paterson's Genomics Group Leader and Deputy, Clinical & Experimental Pharmacology, Dr Ged Brady, commented:

"We see great promise in the Parsortix system with the possibility that it may help broaden our understanding of cancer patient blood borne biomarkers which may in turn eventually help us guide and improve therapy. The major attractions for us are the potential for the system to deliver an increased range and number of CTCs along with simplicity of execution.  Initial positive results have resulted in the inclusion of the Parsortix device in our ongoing efforts to deliver personalised medicine." 

ANGLE's Founder and Chief Executive, Andrew Newland, commented:

"We are delighted that the Paterson's work with the Parsortix system has shown it to be working well.  Their clear assessment of the advantages of the Parsortix system and its potential application in the market is most encouraging." 

For further information:

ANGLE plc	01483 685830
Andrew Newland, Chief Executive Ian Griffiths, Finance Director
Cenkos Securities Adrian Hargrave, Stephen Keys (Nominated adviser) Andy Roberts, Christian Hobart (Sales)	020 7397 8900
Buchanan Mark Court, Fiona Henson, Sophie Cowles	020 7466 5000

 

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