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RNS Number : 3292O
Kromek Group PLC
31 January 2023
31 January 2023
Kromek Group plc
("Kromek" or the "Group")
Kromek Awarded Funding for c. GBP2.5m Breast Cancer Screening
Solution Developments
Innovate UK provides funds for two projects to advance low-dose
molecular breast imaging solution
Kromek (AIM: KMK), a leading developer of radiation and
bio-detection technology solutions for the advanced imaging and
CBRN detection segments, announces that it has been awarded funding
from the UK's innovation agency, Innovate UK, for two research
programmes to further develop a low-dose molecular breast imaging
("MBI") technology based on Kromek's CZT-based SPECT detectors.
The first project is designed to prove the feasibility of using
a single photon detector for ultra-low-dose MBI. This 18-month
project, worth GBP0.5m, is to be carried out solely by Kromek. The
second project, worth GBP2.0m, is a three-year programme to obtain
and deliver clinical data on a low-dose MBI system. It is being
conducted in partnership with Newcastle-upon-Tyne Hospitals NHS
Foundation Trust ("Newcastle Hospitals"), the University of
Newcastle-upon-Tyne and University College London.
These two projects represent further commitments by Innovate UK
and the partners to develop a low-dose MBI solution, and follow the
successful outcome of a previous Innovate UK-funded project
conducted by Kromek and Newcastle Hospitals to develop a faster,
low-radiation dose MBI technology.
Traditional mammography is often less able to clearly image
tumours due to the density of the breast tissue. MBI uses a
radioactive tracer that 'lights up' areas of cancer in the breast
and is effective even in dense breast tissue - which is prevalent
in people who are at higher risk of cancer.
However, MBI currently involves a much greater exposure to
radiation than mammograms. Kromek and the other partners are
developing a solution that, based on the Group's CZT-based SPECT
detector technology, uses low-dose MBI - to provide effective
cancer detection with lower radiation exposure. CZT creates much
clearer images and requires far lower radiation doses to do so,
than comparable detectors, enabling the solution to deliver eight
times less radiation than existing MBI technology.
Arnab Basu, CEO of Kromek Group, said: "Current routine breast
screening does not meet everyone's needs because of its
shortcomings in detecting cancers in dense breast tissue, a
particular concern for younger women. Low-dose molecular breast
imaging, which solves this, has the capacity to save thousands more
lives, detecting cancers earlier, before they have time to spread.
This helps not only the patient, but also the public health
authorities who can provide the right treatment earlier and,
ultimately, more cost effectively. This additional funding from
Innovate UK will allow us and our partners to collate the data
needed to progress to clinical tests and then deployment. We look
forward to working with our partners to complete the
programme."
Dr Nerys Forester, Consultant Breast Radiologist at Newcastle
Hospitals, added: "Breast cancer screening is a vital part of
detecting cancer early when tumours are often too small to see and
saves thousands of lives in the UK each year. For women with dense
breast tissue, cancer can be more difficult to detect and diagnose
through routine mammograms because it is harder to see abnormal
changes in the breast on imaging. We are delighted to be leading
the next phase of testing low-dose MBI, working closely with Kromek
and University College London. In future, we hope this technology
could help us to identify breast cancer in women with dense breasts
at an earlier stage and save more lives."
For further information, please contact:
Kromek Group plc
Arnab Basu, CEO
Paul Farquhar, CFO +44 (0)1740 626 060
finnCap Ltd (Nominated Adviser and Broker)
Geoff Nash/Seamus Fricker/George Dollemore/Emily
Watts
- Corporate Finance
Tim Redfern/Charlotte Sutcliffe - ECM +44 (0)20 7220 0500
Gracechurch Group (Financial PR)
Harry Chathli/Claire Norbury +44 (0)20 4582 3500
Kromek Group plc
Kromek Group plc is a leading developer of radiation detection
and bio-detection technology solutions for the advanced imaging and
CBRN detection segments. Headquartered in County Durham, UK, Kromek
has manufacturing operations in the UK and US, delivering on the
vision of enhancing the quality of life through innovative
detection technology solutions.
The advanced imaging segment comprises the medical (including CT
and SPECT), security and industrial markets. Kromek provides its
OEM customers with detector components, based on its core cadmium
zinc telluride (CZT) platform, to enable better detection of
diseases such as cancer and Alzheimer's, contamination in
industrial manufacture and explosives in aviation settings.
In CBRN detection, the Group provides nuclear radiation
detection solutions to the global homeland defence and security
market. Kromek's compact, handheld, high-performance radiation
detectors, based on advanced scintillation technology, are
primarily used to protect critical infrastructure and urban
environments from the threat of 'dirty bombs'.
The Group is also developing bio-security solutions in the CBRN
detection segment. These consist of fully automated and autonomous
systems to detect a wide range of airborne pathogens.
Kromek is listed on AIM, a market of the London Stock Exchange,
under the trading symbol 'KMK'.
Further information is available at www.kromek.com .
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