Agreement significantly increases access to Colox® in
Switzerland and Liechtenstein
LAUSANNE, Switzerland, March 15, 2017 – Novigenix SA today announced a
commercialization agreement with Dr Risch Medical Laboratory for Colox, its blood test for the
early detection of colorectal cancer (CRC). Dr Risch is a successful and science-driven clinical
laboratory organization with a strong foothold in the Swiss German market and Liechtenstein.
The agreement significantly enhances Novigenix’s footprint in the Swiss market. In 2014, the
Company closed a similar agreement with Unilabs to target the French Swiss market.
Novigenix continues to seek commercialization agreements for Colox to cover the entire Swiss
market, while also intensifying its efforts for international distribution, in particular in other
European markets.
Starting in March 2017, and with Colox as its flagship product, Dr Risch intends to launch a full
range of diagnostic colorectal cancer services, including gold-standard fecal immunochemical
tests (FIT) to detect blood in stool.
Prof. Dr. Lorenz Risch. Chief Medical Officer of Risch, said: “Colox has all the hallmarks of a
convenient test for colorectal cancer and can serve as a valuable tool in the physician’s arsenal
to identify cases with colorectal cancer. Colorectal cancer places a huge burden on people’s
lives and on our healthcare system. At Dr Risch we share Novigenix’s ambition to increase
awareness for CRC and to position Colox as a tool for cancer prevention.”
Nicolas Demierre, COO of Novigenix SA, said: “We are delighted to have found in Dr Risch a
solid and science-driven partner that is dedicated to help reduce cancer mortality through early
detection of colorectal cancer and advanced polyps. Together with data from our ongoing,
prospective 1000-patient study PROSPEROS, we expect that our collaboration with Dr Risch
will significantly contribute to our growing body of clinical evidence of Colox in routine medical
practice.”
About colorectal cancer:
Colorectal cancer is the second leading cause of cancer mortality in Europe and North
America. Current methods of detection of CRC are cumbersome and invasive, requiring
unpleasant preparation of the colon, or stool manipulation at home. As a result the majority of
individuals at average risk resist testing and fail to be referred to potentially therapeutic or
preventative colonoscopy. In Switzerland alone this leads to 5 people dying every day from
this largely preventable disease.
About Colox®:
Colox® is a proven molecular blood test that has been designed to support physicians in case
finding of patients with CRC and adenomas for referral to colonoscopy. The test can support
the healthcare community to significantly reduce mortality from colorectal cancer through early
detection and intervention. Colox can be ordered by any physician in routine medical practice
to identify patients with adenomatous polyps and colorectal cancer.
About Dr Risch:
Dr Risch SA is science-driven, family-owned leader in laboratory testing in Switzerland and
Liechtenstein. Founded in 1970, Dr Risch today operates 13 clinical laboratories in all Swiss
regional language regions with privileged access to private, regional, and academic hospitals
and general practitioners. For more information please visit www.risch.ch
About Novigenix SA:
Novigenix SA is an innovative Swiss molecular diagnostics company focused on the
commercialization of new blood tests for the early detection of cancer. Novigenix’s products
rely on a new generation of predictive molecular signatures and state-of-the-art mathematical
analytical models to provide new solutions for the early detection of cancer. For more
information please visit www.novigenix.com
