Given Imaging Ltd. (Nasdaq: GIVN; TASE: GIVN) today cites a report in the May issue of "Endoscopy" which found the company's PillCam Colon to be a cost-effective approach to preventing colon-rectal cancer.
The study in Italy examined use of the PillCam Colon by "the average-risk, general population that fails to comply with current colon-rectal cancer screening guidelines." The aim of the analysis was to provide a model to assess the cost and effectiveness of population-based screening for colon-rectal cancer using capsule endoscopy compared with that of a standard colonoscopy screening program. The study was conducted by Professor Cesare Hassan of the Gastroenterology and Digestive Endoscopy Unit of the Nuovo Regina Margherita Hospital in Rome.
Dr. Hassan said that use of the PillCam Colon as a non-invasive alternative to the colonoscopy "may aid in significantly reducing the more than 212,000 annual deaths in Europe due to colon-rectal cancer." The study noted, however, that the cost effectiveness of colon-rectal cancer screening using the PillCam Colon will mainly depend on its ability to improve compliance in the general population.
PillCam Colon received the CE Mark in Europe in October 2006 and is available in select clinics across Europe. Given Imaging now markets three video capsules: PillCam Colon, PillCam SB for the small bowel and PillCam ESO for the esophagus, as well as the Agile patency capsule.
Published by Globes [online], Israel business news - www.globes-online.com - on April 10, 2008
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