Health: New US guidelines on breast cancer may help this ASX biotech

Last year the US National Comprehensive Cancer Network (NCCN) updated its guidelines for problems arising from breast cancer treatment, and these now mirror evidence collated by an ASX biotech.

Medical software technology company ImpediMed (ASX:IPD) says the new guidelines are around early detection and diagnosis of lymphoedema, or swelling caused by fluids. Women who have had surgery or radiotherapy for breast cancer are particularly susceptible.

The new guidelines encourage doctors to consider pretreatment baseline measurements for patients with lymphoedema risk factors.

Impedimed says while the recent updates do not specify a measurement technique, they are consistent with the protocol outlined in its Lymphoedema Prevention Program, which is supported by evidence from the long-running PREVENT clinical trial into sub-clinical detection of increasing extracellular fluid.

“The recent update to the NCCN guidelines shows that the medical community recognises the impact of lymphoedema on cancer survivors and the value of programs like ImpediMed’s LPP to address it,” CEO Richard Carreon said.

Impedimed’s bioimpedance spectroscopy technology non-invasively measures, monitors and manages fluid status and tissue composition.

The change followed a request by Vanderbilt University School of Nursing, Lymphedema Education and Research Network and the American Society of Breast Surgeons Foundation to recommend a surveillance program to detect subclinical breast cancer-related lymphoedema and initiate early intervention to reduce the need for complete decongestive physiotherapy.

The NCCN did not endorse a surveillance program at the August 2019 annual meeting, when the decision was made.

The NCCN documents recommendations for diagnostic, treatment, and supportive services provided to cancer patients which are then referenced by providers and payors when making decisions about care and coverage of oncology patient services.

Impedimed said in its recent quarterly report it’s on track to achieve low to mid-range revenue guidance of $7-8.5m and would not see major revenue increases from initiatives put in place over the last 12 months.

Furthermore, sales of its flagship SOZO device did not jump in the way investors had been expecting.

The SOZO technology enables assessment of secondary lymphedema and delivery of a precise snapshot of fluid status and tissue composition, quickly.

In other ASX health news:

Regenerative medicine biotech Exopharm (ASX:EX1) has set itself up to deliver on a series of promises for the next 12 months. Today it said it would announce results from pre-clinical testing in 2020, hinted at the close of one or more partnership discussions, and said it would start planning for human clinical trials this year.

Clinuvel Pharmaceuticals (ASX:CUV) has requested a Type C Guidance meeting with the US Food and Drug Administration (FDA) to seek agreement on the design of a multicentre phase IIb vitiligo clinical study. Vitiligo is a treatment-resistant disease which causes loss of pigmentation and has an intense psychological and social impact on patients, specifically patients of darker skin complexion.