Precision Biopsy set to speed commercialization of optical fiber-driven biopsy system for prostate cancer
Precision Biopsy (Aurora, CO) has raised $33.6 million in new equity investments to help commercialize its optical fiber-driven ClariCore system for real-time classification of prostate cancer during biopsy procedures. The company also plans to accelerate the development of its Focal Therapy program, which seeks to provide targeted, localized therapy to the prostate gland by using the same optical tissue-targeting technology found in the ClariCore system.
More than 2 million men worldwide undergo transrectal ultrasound (TRUS)-guided prostate biopsies each year because of various risk factors, including elevated PSA levels, physical exam abnormalities, and family history. Yet fewer than 10% of the 12 million biopsy core samples that are analyzed come back positive for cancer—at a cost of nearly $1 billion dollars in the U.S. alone. These TRUS-guided prostate biopsies also miss as much as 30% of cancers that require therapy. So, the ClariCore system performs spectral analysis during a biopsy to rapidly classify whether tissue in the prostate is normal or suspicious. Equipped with an optical fiber and companion console, ClariCore provides in vivo tissue classification that seeks to minimize the number of core samples taken by up to 90%, while offering actionable diagnostic information.
Precision Biopsy’s application of the ClariCore technology in its Focal Therapy program also aims to reduce complications and improve outcomes for prostate cancer patients. The use of focal therapy has traditionally been limited because of an inability to identify the location of a cancer tumor or how broadly it’s spread within the prostate gland. The company's plans to offer 3D mapping of the prostate tissue are designed to provide better insight into a cancerous area. Urologists would have the ability to treat patients in one session, potentially reducing the need for radical prostatectomy procedures and preserving healthy tissue.
For more information, please visit www.precisionbiopsy.com.
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