HealthLinx shares soar 236% on EU green lightEli Greenblat July 30, 2009 - 5:11PM Shares in biotechnology company HealthLinx rocketed more than 230 per cent after the company said it had obtained European approval for its OvPlex ovarian cancer diagnostic test, clearing the path for sales to begin in Britain and the Republic of Ireland with immediate effect.
HealthLinx shares jumped 5.9 cents, or 236 per cent, to close at 8.4 cents.
OvPlex is the world’s first and most accurate commercially available early stage ovarian cancer diagnostic test for symptomatic women. The diagnostic device has 92 per cent efficiency.
The device uses a simple blood test that patients can request from their doctor.
"This is substantial commercial progress for HealthLinx and an important development for women’s healthcare in the UK,’’ said Nick Gatsios, managing director of HealthLinx.
Worldwide more than 240,000 new cases of ovarian cancer are diagnosed each year while more than 130,000 women die from the disease.
The UK region accounts for more than 7000 of these diagnoses and 4000 deaths. It is estimated that 75 per cent of women with ovarian cancer are not diagnosed until the late stage of the disease.
