Michigan Institute of Urology Inaugurates New Prostate Cancer Detection Test - Apifiny
St. Clair Shores, Mich. (PRWEB) April 14, 2015 -- The Michigan Institute of Urology (MIU) is the first urology group in the United States to offer Apifiny™, the only tumor specific, non-PSA blood test designed to aid clinicians in the detection of prostate cancer. Apifiny was developed based on innovative research conducted at the University of Michigan.
Armune BioScience, Inc. is a Michigan-based life sciences company that developed Apifiny. Armune is preparing for a nationwide launch of this exciting new test which is the only tumor specific, non-PSA blood test available in the United States.
“Michigan Institute of Urology continues to be a leader in utilizing innovative diagnostic tools to improve patient care and we look forward to being the first group of physicians in the country to offer Apifiny to our patients,” said Jason M. Hafron, MD, a leading urologist with MIU. “We continue to look for tools to help minimize the number of prostate biopsies and we look forward to the potential insight that Apifiny can bring to our decision making.”
According to the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention (CDC), prostate cancer is the most common type of non-skin cancer for men in America and is a leading cause of cancer death among men of all races. The most widely used screening test for prostate cancer is currently the PSA test, which measures the blood’s level of PSA, a protein that is naturally produced by the prostate gland and is typically increased when cancer is present.
“The PSA test is based on the fact that men with higher levels of the PSA protein are more likely to have prostate cancer,” said Dr. Hafron. “The problem is that higher levels of PSA can also be caused by a benign enlargement or inflammation of the prostate, leading to many false-positives for cancer and ultimately unnecessary invasive biopsies and an increased potential for patient harm.”
Physicians normally advise men with increased PSA levels greater than 2.5 ng/mL and an abnormal digital rectal exam to undergo a prostate biopsy. The current process to determine candidates for an initial or repeat biopsy results in too many biopsies being performed in the United States. Apifiny has the potential to aid clinicians in determining the most appropriate candidates for an initial or repeat biopsy.
"Armune is excited to be working with the healthcare professionals at MIU as they make Apifiny available to their patients,” said David A. Esposito, Armune’s President and Chief Executive Officer. “We look forward to the nationwide launch of Apifiny and its potential to better address our healthcare system’s demand for improved outcomes at lower costs.”
Patients who wish to have access to Apifiny should contact their health care provider or contact the Michigan Institute of Urology directly (http://www.michiganurology.com)
About Michigan Institute of Urology (http://www.michiganurology.com)
MIU is one of the oldest and largest sub-specialty Urology practices in the State of Michigan. MIU is the most comprehensive private urology practice in Michigan with 51 Urologists practicing in 25 convenient locations in Southeastern Michigan. In addition to 51 General and Fellowship Trained Urologists, MIU has a complement of compassionate and caring Nurse Practitioners, Registered Nurses, Medical Assistants and Ancillary Personnel. MIU is one of the leading Urology practices in the United States, utilizing the latest, clinically-proven techniques to diagnose and treat a wide variety of urologic disorders in men, women and children.
About Armune BioScience (http://www.armune.com)
Armune BioScience, Inc. is a medical diagnostics company that develops and commercializes unique proprietary technology exclusively licensed from the University of Michigan for diagnostic and prognostic tests for prostate, lung and breast cancers. The Company was founded by the Apjohn Group, LLC (http://www.apjohngroup.com), a business accelerator founded by experienced health care executives that brings together valuable resources of management talent and angel/seed financing, and a group of experienced life science professionals. Armune was incorporated as a Delaware Corporation with corporate headquarters in Kalamazoo, MI and a research and commercial laboratory in Ann Arbor, MI.
Sue Crookston, Armune BioScience, Inc., http://www.armune.com, +1 (269) 349-8870, [email protected]
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