Data Presented at ESMO 2016 Demonstrates that VolitionRx Limited's Novel Blood Test for Colorectal Cancer Potentially Reduces the Need for Colonoscopy Referral by 25%

NAMUR, Belgium, Oct. 11, 2016 /PRNewswire/ -- VolitionRx Limited (NYSE MKT: VNRX), a life sciences company focused on developing diagnostic tests for cancer, today announced that research presented at the European Society for Medical Oncology Congress (ESMO) shows that Volition's novel blood test for colorectal cancer combined with the conventional faecal immunochemical screening test has the potential to offer up to a 25% reduction in colonoscopies while maintaining almost 97% detection of colorectal cancer when combined with the faecal immunochemical test (FIT) score.

Dr. Marielle Herzog, Volition's lead scientist for Nucleosomics^®, presented a poster on the results from the first 2000 of the 8000 FIT positive patients in this study. This prospective screening study, conducted in conjunction with Hvidovre Hospital, University of Copenhagen, aims to discover the ability of the Nu.Q^TM Colorectal Cancer Screening Triage Test (blood test) to identify patients with a false positive on their FIT, in order to reduce the total number of colonoscopy referrals.

Less than 10% of people with a positive FIT score have colorectal cancer; a positive FIT score is not a diagnostic for cancer but means simply that blood has been found in the stool. This means that there are a significant number of unnecessary, expensive and invasive colonoscopies performed, placing a burden on both the patient and healthcare system. The combination of FIT test and the Nu.Q^TM Triage Test in the study identified nearly 97% of colorectal cancers in FIT positive subjects. By utilizing this regimen, screening programs could reduce the number of unnecessary colonoscopies performed and more importantly, for the same number of colonoscopies potentially increase screening subject throughput by up to 33%, which could result in a net increase in total CRC cases detected by up to 29%. Please note that the Poster and Presentation from ESMO are available in the Technology section of the Volition website.

Currently in Denmark, around 20,000 people have a positive faecal test for colorectal cancer each year. All of them are referred for a colonoscopy, however, statistics demonstrate that only approximately 1,000 of them have cancer and require urgent diagnosis. 

The lead author of the study, Dr. Marielle Herzog, commented: "False positives add to an already long waiting list and delays diagnosis for patients who have cancer and need swift treatment. By undertaking this simple, cost effective blood test in people with a positive faecal test, we can help prevent unneeded referrals for colonoscopy with a small reduction in cancer detection and potentially reduce the colonoscopy waiting time for those at high risk of cancer."

Volition plans initially to focus the launch of its Nu.Q^TM Colorectal Cancer Screening Triage Test in the EU member states, which have an aggregate screening age population of approximately 148 million patients.  There are organized colorectal cancer screening programs in 14 of the 28 EU states with a further 10 states offering some form of public or privately accessible screening.

Louise Day, Chief Marketing and Communications Officer said, "The introduction of Nu.Q^TM to help physicians decide whether patients need to go on to have a colonoscopy has the potential to significantly alleviate some of the capacity pressures within healthcare systems. Our hope is that more people will be able to be screened and more colorectal cancer cases identified early. The poster presented at ESMO this week has generated a lot of interest and discussion. We expect to receive CE Marking for this test later this year and aim to market it throughout Europe in 2017."

About Volition

Volition is a life sciences company focused on developing diagnostic tests for cancer. The tests are based on the science of Nucleosomics^®, which is the practice of identifying and measuring nucleosomes in the bloodstream or other bodily fluid – an indication that disease is present.

Volition's goal is to make the tests as easy and simple to use, for both patients and doctors, as existing diabetic and cholesterol blood tests. Volition's research and development activities are currently centered in Belgium as the company focuses on bringing its diagnostic products to market first in Europe, then in the U.S. and ultimately, worldwide.

For more information about Volition, visit Volition's website (http://www.volitionrx.com) or connect with us via:

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