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Print Edition StoriesThursday, October 22, 2009
Allegro Diagnostics lands $2.8M SBIR grant for lung cancer diagnostics
By Mass High Tech staff
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The National Cancer Institute has awarded Allegro Diagnostics, a Boston developer of medical tests for cancer, a $2.8 million Phase 1/2 Fast Track Small Business Innovation Research grant for a clinical study of its lung cancer diagnostic test, BronchoGen.
The BronchoGen study has enrolled 800 people in 12 locations throughout the U.S. The test is designed to study the RNA gene expression levels of patients’ airway-lining cells that are accessed during bronchoscopy. Researchers have found a difference between specific genes of lung cancer patients and those who do not have lung cancer.
According to guidelines from the American College of Chest Physicians, a backup lung cancer diagnostic test should be administered to patients who receive a negative or non-diagnostic result from a bronchoscopy, due to the common diagnostic test’s propensity for false negative results.
Founded in 2006 by researchers from Boston University, Allegro Diagnostics has received funding from Waltham-based Kodiak Venture Partners, Newton-based Catalyst Health Ventures and Boston University. The company received a $4 million Series A round in March of 2008.
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