- Bladder cancer is still the sixth most prevalent cancer in the U.S. in 2021
- The total number of new bladder cancer cases is expected to reach 83,730, with deaths totaling 17,200 this year
- Imagin Medical Inc. is hoping to offer a better standard of care for bladder cancer patients with its i/Blue Imaging System(TM) that improves visualization for resection, potentially lowering recurrence rates
According to American Cancer Society statistics, the number of cases of all types of cancer this year will total almost 1.9 million, with 608,570 deaths, or approximately 5,200 new cases and 1,670 deaths per day (https://nnw.fm/h80Ng). Of those numbers, bladder cancer remains the sixth most prevalent form of cancer in the United States, with an estimated 83,730 (4.4% of total) new cases and 17,200 (2.8% of total) estimated deaths in 2021 and a greater than 50% recurrence rate. The five-year relative survival rate (2010-2016) was reported at 77% – meaning that only 77% of diagnosed patients survived five years after diagnosis (https://nnw.fm/tC7dQ).
One company, Imagin Medical (CSE: IME) (OTCQB: IMEXF), is looking to disrupt the industry, changing how cystoscopies for bladder cancer are performed, with the goal of potentially lowering recurrence rates and ultimately helping improve patients’ lives and long-term outlook. The company’s i/Blue Imaging System(TM) is a breakthrough cancer visualization technology currently in the manufacturing stage with Lighthouse Imaging, an FDA registered and ISO 13485:2016 certified contract manufacturer located in Maine. The project is on track for completion in 2022 (https://nnw.fm/HIWL1).
When patients present with symptoms that may be consistent with bladder cancer or other urinary-related conditions, the first step may be to perform a cystoscopy. The first symptom most commonly associated with bladder cancer is hematuria or blood in the urine. When coupled with other symptoms, doctors will perform further evaluations. These additional symptoms may include, but are not limited to:
- A need to urinate that is more frequent than usual
- Pain or burning during urination
- Feeling as if you need to urinate, or an increased urgency to urinate, even without a full bladder
- Having trouble urinating or a weak urine stream
- Needing to urinate many times during the night
For decades, cystoscopies have traditionally used white light illumination for visualization within the bladder. With this white light system, surgeons can visualize the bladder wall and detect and resect any protrusions or correct any inconsistencies, if necessary. However, flat tumors that do not protrude above the wall of the bladder cannot be visualized with white light alone, making it very difficult to perform a complete resection.
The introduction of blue light cystoscopies in 2010 has helped address this issue. Blue light cystoscopies use an FDA-approved contrast agent inserted into the bladder about an hour before the procedure. Once exposed to the blue light, the agent causes the cancerous cells to fluoresce, providing clear images of flat tumors and the margins. Blue light cystoscopy isn’t without its limitations – the current model on the market requires the surgeon or urologist to change views from white to blue light images to operate because the blue light image is not in real time and neither image provides proper orientation of the cancer within the bladder during resection. In addition, the cost of the current method is high and requires the purchase of proprietary, blue filtered cystoscopes that cannot be used for any other purpose.
Imagin Medical’s i/Blue Imaging System has the potential to revolutionize current cystoscopies by showing both white light and blue light images simultaneously side-by-side on the screen in real time, providing clear visualization of the fluoresced flat cancer cells and margins, in context within the bladder. This capability eliminates surgeons’ need to change between images and can potentially lead to lower recurrence rates and help assure a better standard of care and future for bladder cancer patients. In addition, the i/Blue System will come at an overall lower system cost and, because it will adapt to most endoscopes on the market, will allow hospitals and doctor’s offices to make use of scopes they already own, adding to the savings.
For more information, visit the company’s website at www.ImaginMedical.com.
NOTE TO INVESTORS: The latest news and updates relating to IMEXF are available in the company’s newsroom at https://nnw.fm/IMEXF
About NetworkNewsWire
NetworkNewsWire (NNW) is a financial news and content distribution company that provides (1) access to a network of wire services via NetworkWire to reach all target markets, industries and demographics in the most effective manner possible, (2) article and editorial syndication to 5,000+ news outlets (3), enhanced press release services to ensure maximum impact, (4) social media distribution via the Investor Brand Network (IBN) to nearly 2 million followers, (5) a full array of corporate communications solutions, and (6) a total news coverage solution with NNW Prime. As a multifaceted organization with an extensive team of contributing journalists and writers, NNW is uniquely positioned to best serve private and public companies that desire to reach a wide audience of investors, consumers, journalists and the general public. By cutting through the overload of information in today’s market, NNW brings its clients unparalleled visibility, recognition and brand awareness. NNW is where news, content and information converge.
To receive SMS text alerts from NetworkNewsWire, text “STOCKS” to 888-902-4192 (U.S. Mobile Phones Only)
For more information, please visit https://www.networknewswire.com
Please see full terms of use and disclaimers on the NetworkNewsWire website applicable to all content provided by NNW, wherever published or re-published: http://NNW.fm/Disclaimer
NetworkNewsWire (NNW)
New York, New York
www.networknewswire.com
212.418.1217 Office
[email protected]
NetworkNewsWire is part of the InvestorBrandNetwork.
