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(Alliance News) - Oxford BioDynamics PLC shares rose on Tuesday on news that the biotechnology firm's checkpoint inhibitor response test is now available in the UK.
The stock was trading 8.0% higher at 17.55 pence each in London on Tuesday morning.
The EpiSwitch CiRT blood test predicts a patient's likely response to immune checkpoint inhibitor therapies, with high levels of sensitivity, specificity, accuracy and negative predictive value across 15 cancer indications where ICI treatments are approved.
It provides an alternative to the more invasive biopsy option, and helps physicians to consider treatment options for the patient.
The test is now available to private physicians in the UK online. Oxford noted the appeal of the test for the UK's National Health Service, given the high rates of inefficacy of ICI treatments, and their high costs.
"We have already seen in the US that a simple blood test, such as the CiRT, that can predict the patient response to ICIs, could quickly become an essential tool for clinicians. We are proud to make this now available to UK patients, as well. While initially this is only available to private healthcare providers, we aim to widen availability through the NHS, as well," said Chief Executive Officer Jon Burrows.
By Elizabeth Winter; elizabethwinter@alliancenews.com
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