- Shares jump 42% on positive trial results
- Cancer prediction 81% compared with 60% for standard care
- Diagnosing lung cancer early is critical for patients
Shares in LungLife AI (LLAI:AIM), the developer of clinical diagnostic solutions for the early detection of cancer, surged 42% to 65.2p after the company revealed the successful validation of its LungLB test for intermediate lung nodules.
The study demonstrated a strong positive predictive value (PPV) of 81% in discriminating cancerous lung nodules in patients with smaller nodules less than 15 millimeters.
These types of nodules present the greatest challenge for physicians in detecting cancers. Current standard of care generates a PPV of 60% which leads to ‘material’ delays in diagnosis of deadly cancers, the company said.
LungLife AI noted the findings from the small nodules group are of the ‘utmost’ importance’ because they represent around 87% of intermediate risk nodules which are the most challenging to evaluate and diagnose.
The study’s results were also superior to other types of cancer detection diagnostics such as the PET (Positron emission tomography) scan which has a PPV of 67%.
WHAT DID THE CEO SAY?
CEO Paul Pagano commented: ‘This important clinical validation of the LungLB® test is a significant milestone for our company.
‘While we have identified small nodules as an early commercialisation opportunity, in the background we will continue to optimise the LungLB® test for additional indicated uses, while progressing on the next stage of our programme.’
Drew Moghanaki, professor and chief of thoracic oncology at the University of Los Angeles and scientific advisor to LungLife AI said: ‘Small lung nodules measuring less than 15 millimeters are often dismissed as 'probably benign' and monitored with serial imaging to avoid a potentially unnecessary biopsy.
‘Yet, as the results of the latest LungLB® study demonstrated, many of these nodules are actually malignant and best managed with an immediate biopsy and treatment initiation without delay.
‘LungLB® performed remarkably well in this validation study, warranting its consideration as a clinical biomarker for patients presenting with indeterminate pulmonary nodules.’
Lung cancer is the most fatal form of cancer worldwide and early detection is critical to achieving better patient outcomes. The company’s LungLB test uses a minimally invasive blood draw.
