University Hospital of Santiago de Compostela participates in large pancreatic cancer study

International validation through collaboration with leading cancer centers in Europe and US is a key part of Immunovia’s development and commercialization strategy for its portfolio of IMMray^TM tests. Therefore, the company has initiated PanFAM-1, the largest ever prospective multicenter study for early detection of pancreatic cancer using IMMray^TM PanCan-d, the first blood-based test for early detection of pancreatic cancer. Today Immunovia is pleased to announce that Spanish pancreatic cancer Santiago de Compostela has joined in this endeavor.

Immunovia AB today announced that University Hospital of Santiago de Compostela is to become the latest internationally renowned participant in PanFAM-1, a multicenter prospective validation study for the early diagnosis of familiar pancreatic cancer (FPC) high risk individuals using Immunovia’s innovative blood test, IMMray^TM PanCan-d.  Recent advances in genetics indicate that not only individuals with first-degree relatives with pancreatic cancer are at risk, but also those carrying germline mutations in known genes carrying linked to pancreatic cancer risk. Including more than 1000 patients, PanFAM-1 is predicted to run for three years from the start of the study.

The team at the Department of Gastroenterology and Hepatology, University Hospital of Santiago de Compostela is led by Professor J Enrique Domínguez-Muñoz, a world leading authority on the pancreatic function, pancreatic diseases, and pancreatic endoscopy, who comments:

I welcome the opportunity to participate in PanFAM-1. With our increasing knowledge of the genetics of this devastating disease, there is a pressing need for a prospective study of this kind to enable cancer centers to devise effective screening programs.

“As Professor Domínguez-Muñoz comments, our knowledge of the genetics of pancreatic cancer continues to grow. We believe this increases the urgent need for accurate early detection, a role IMMray^™ PanCan-d is aiming to fill. PanFAM-1 is therefore designed to verify this and we are delighted that Santiago de Compostela has become the latest leading pancreatic diseases center to become our participating partner,” declared Mats Grahn, CEO, Immunovia.

Following other PanFAM-1 partners, Santiago de Compostela fulfils three essential criteria: broad patient reach, ongoing surveillance program for familial pancreatic cancer risk group and world renowned clinical expertise in pancreatic cancer.  PanFAM-1 now includes Mount Sinai New York, Knight Cancer Institute at Oregon Health and Sciences University, Portland and Massachusetts General in the USA, University of Liverpool, UK, Ramon y Cajal Institute for Health Research, Madrid, Spain and Sahlgrenska University Hospital, Gothenburg, Sweden.