(RTTNews) -  Abbott Laboratories (ABT: News ) Wednesday said that a new Diagnostic Biomarker test showed promise in monitoring Ovarian cancer. According to the test, a novel diagnostic marker, human epididymal protein 4 or HE4, combined with other tests, can be used to more effectively monitor for early-stage ovarian cancer or EOC, improving treatment options for many of the 22,000 women in the United States who develop this deadly disease each year.

The company revealed that the new research on HE4 provided important validation for the use of the HE4 test in combination with CA125, the current standard for monitoring ovarian cancer, in estimating EOC risk in women presenting with pelvic masses.

The HE4 test was developed through research efforts aimed at identifying combinations of biomarkers to add sensitivity to the CA125 test, which was limited to its ability to monitor early stage EOC.

The company further stated that Fujirebio Diagnostics, Inc. and Abbott have signed a license agreement to develop this new ovarian cancer marker for use on Abbott's automated Architect diagnostic analyzers. A manual form of the HE4 test has been approved by the Food and Drug Association as an aid in estimating the risk of epithelial ovarian cancer in premenopausal and postmenopausal women.
Ovarian cancer is the main cause of death from gynecologic cancers in the US.

ABT is currently trading at $44.48 down $0.51 or 1.13% on a volume of 3.70 million shares on the NYSE.

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by RTT Staff Writer

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