8 Sep 2008 07:30
Embargoed: 0730hrs, 8 September 2008
Akers Biosciences, Inc.
("ABI" or the "Company")
ABI to Develop Major New Diagnostic Products in Diabetes & Lung Cancer Fields
Akers Biosciences, Inc (AIM:AKR), a leading designer and manufacturer of rapid diagnostic screening and testing products, is pleased to announce the development of two revolutionary disposable, breath diagnostic tests with mass market applications.
In 2007 ABI was granted patents surrounding its MPC Biosensor platform. This technology identifies 'biomarkers' in breath condensate once it is captured in a device, such as a disposable blow tube. The Company, which has successfully commercialised breath alcohol detectors and is in the final stages of development for a Free Radical breath test, has now identified a number of medical conditions with 'markers' that can be assessed using the same technology platform.
The following rapid, single-use breath tests are in various phases of development:
Breath Ketone "Check"TM: detects the presence of ketones in a diabetic's breath condensate sample. Ketones are acids that build up in the blood and are a warning sign of Diabetic Ketoacidosis, a severe and potentially life-threatening condition. Worldwide it is estimated, there are over 220 million people with diabetes and every diabetic is at risk of developing Ketoacidosis.
The Breath Ketone "Check"TM will be the only rapid, disposable ketone breath test in the world and may replace the need for diabetic sufferers to undergo periodic blood or urine Ketoacidosis screenings. Aside from the convenience that the breath test will offer diabetics, the Breath Ketone "Check"TM will be designed to identify the presence of ketones, even at the earliest stages, to facilitate intervention and treatment.
Feasibility studies have been completed and the Breath Ketone "Check"TM is about to enter clinical trials.
2. Breath PulmoHealth "Check"TM: identifies chemicals in human breath that have been found to be preliminary markers for lung cancer, a disease that kills over 1.4 million people around the world annually.
The Breath PulmoHealth "Check" TMwill be the first rapid, disposable, lung cancer breath screening test and can be used as an early detection device, or as a non-invasive assessment tool at all stages of the disease and its treatment. Its portability and cost-effectiveness would benefit clinicians at every level of care but could be particularly useful in physician offices and in rural health settings where X- Ray imagery and other more sophisticated diagnostic tests might not be available.
Feasibility studies for the Breath PulmoHealth "Check"TM are currently in progress.
Thomas A. Nicolette, President & Chief Executive Officer, said,
"We are extremely excited to apply our patented MPC Biosensor technology, most notably used in our BreathScan® product line, to the clinical arena. The portability, cost-effectiveness and flexibility that the Breath Ketone "Check"TM and the Breath PulmoHealth "Check" TMwill offer clinicians and patients, will have the potential to transform the diagnostic capabilities within the respective fields of diabetes and lung cancer detection.
We look forward to continuing our current research program with the goal of commercialising many single-use, diagnostic breath tests that facilitate the rapid and early detection of a wide range of medical conditions."
Enquiries:
Thomas A. Nicolette
President and CEO
Tel. +1 856 848 8698
Ben Simons or Eleanor Williamson
M: Communications
Tel. +44 (0)20 7153 1540
Alasdair Younie
Arbuthnot Securities Limited
Tel. +44 (0)20 7012 2139
AKR.L (AKR)