Exalenz Bioscience announced the initiation of a clinical study designed to investigate its BreathID® test to non-invasively detect primary liver cancer, also known as Hepatocellular Carcinoma (HCC). The 100 patient study, being conducted initially at the 302 Military Hospital of China, with other sites in China expected to be added, will evaluate the efficacy of BreathID for the early detection of HCC, compared to magnetic resonance imaging (MRI). MRI is currently part of the recommended practice guidelines by leading medical organizations including the European Association for the Study of the Liver (EASL) and the American Association for the Study of Liver Diseases (AASLD).

Following completion of the study, Exalenz plans to conduct a Pivotal study and submit data to both the U.S. Food and Drug Administration (FDA) and the Chinese Food and Drug Administration (CFDA) in support of marketing approval. The efficacy of the Exalenz breath test for detection of HCC was evaluated in a prior clinical study demonstrating a very high correlation with imaging tests like computed tomography that are currently the standard of care. The company estimates the market value of this test is approximately $380 million in China alone.

This study is part of Exalenz's growing clinical pipeline of investigational diagnostic applications for serious liver diseases. In May, the Company announced the initiation of a clinical study evaluating the potential of its BreathID® test to diagnose nonalcoholic steatohepatitis (NASH). Exalenz also has an ongoing pivotal study, launched October 2014, investigating BreathID® as a tool to diagnose Clinically Significant Portal Hypertension (CSPH).