GUIDED THERAPEUTIC : Konica Minolta Opto, Inc. Extends Product Development Licensing Agreement with $750,000 Payment to Guided Therapeutics
03/30/2011 | 09:10am
Guided
Therapeutics, Inc. (OTCBB & OTCQB: GTHP), developer of a rapid and
painless biophotonic testing platform for the early detection of
disease, today announced that Konica
Minolta Opto, Inc. of Tokyo has extended its licensing agreement to
co-develop non-invasive cancer detection products.
Under terms of the agreement, Konica Minolta Opto will pay Guided
Therapeutics a $750,000 fee to extend the agreement for one year. This
is in addition to approximately $1.7 million the company expects to
receive, over the course of the next 12 months, for the co-development
of its first product in conjunction with Konica Minolta Opto for the
detection and monitoring of esophageal pre-cancer called Barrett's
esophagus.
The products being developed with Konica Minolta Opto are based on the
company's non-invasive cervical disease detection technology, which is
undergoing the U.S. Food and Drug Administration's premarket approval
process. In addition to the Barrett's esophagus product, Konica Minolta
Opto retains the rights to apply the technology to lung cancer.
"We continue to enjoy a strong working relationship with Konica Minolta
Opto and believe that the continuation of our licensing agreement will
likely lead to the first product line extension to be built upon our
non-invasive cancer scanning platform technology," said Mark L. Faupel,
Ph.D., President and CEO of Guided Therapeutics, Inc. "With the recent
approval to begin human clinical studies, we expect to begin enrolling
subjects in the second or third quarter of this year, which will be a
key milestone for the company."
"We are pleased to continue our relationship with Guided Therapeutics to
co-develop and market non-invasive cancer detection products," said
Akira Suzuki, General Manager, LC Business Department for Konica Minolta
Opto. "We believe that these new technologies have the potential to
improve the early detection of disease which is proven to save lives."
According to the World Health Organization (WHO), esophageal cancer
ranks just below cervical cancer in newly diagnosed cases. New cases of
esophageal cancer are estimated at 410,000 worldwide, with more than
16,000 new cases a year and more than 14,000 deaths in the U.S. alone.
Barrett's esophagus is believed to be caused by excessive acid reflux.
About The Technology Platform
The Guided Therapeutics disease detection platform, which consists of a
base unit and single-patient-use calibration disposable, scans tissue
with light to identify cancer and pre-cancer painlessly and
non-invasively. The proprietary, patented biophotonic technology is able
to distinguish between normal and diseased tissue by detecting
biochemical and morphological changes at the cellular level. Unlike
traditional tests, the Guided Therapeutics test does not require
laboratory analysis or a tissue sample, is designed to provide results
immediately and eliminate costly unnecessary testing.
About Konica Minolta Opto
Konica Minolta Opto, Inc. was inaugurated on October 1, 2003, following
the integration of the former Konica Opto Corporation and the optics
division parented by the optical system operations of the former Minolta
Co., Ltd. Our scope of business can be roughly divided into two
categories: optical product development centered on our proprietary,
cutting-edge optical technology; and the development and manufacturing
of electronic components, including triacetyl-cellulose (TAC) films for
use in LCD polarizing plates and glass dry plates used for production of
shadow masks. Visit www.konicaminolta.com/opt/index.html
for more information.
About Guided Therapeutics
Guided Therapeutics, Inc. (OTCBB & OTCQB: GTHP) is developing a rapid
and painless testing platform for the early detection of disease, based
on its patented biophotonic technology that utilizes light to detect
disease at the cellular level. The company's first product is a
non-invasive device used to detect cervical disease instantly and at the
point of care. In a multi-center clinical trial, with women at risk for
cervical disease, the Guided Therapeutics technology was able to detect
cervical cancer up to two years earlier than conventional modalities.
The technology is designed to provide an objective result at the
point-of-care, thereby improving the management of cervical disease.
Guided Therapeutics has also entered into a partnership with Konica
Minolta Opto to develop a non-invasive test for Barrett's Esophagus
using the company's technology platform. For more information, visit: www.guidedinc.com.
The Guided Therapeutics Non-invasive Cervical Cancer Detection Device
and Barrett's Esophagus Device are investigational devices and are
limited by federal law to investigational use.
"Safe Harbor" Statement under the Private Securities Litigation Reform
Act of 1995. A number of the matters and subject areas discussed in this
news release that are not historical or current facts deal with
potential future circumstances and developments. The discussion of such
matters and subject areas is qualified by the inherent risks and
uncertainties surrounding future expectations generally and also may
materially differ from Guided Therapeutics' actual future experience
involving any of or more of such matters and subject areas. Such risks
and uncertainties include: the early stage of products in development,
the uncertainty of market acceptance of products, the uncertainty of
development or effectiveness of distribution channels, the intense
competition in the medical device industry, the uncertainty of capital
to develop products, the uncertainty of regulatory approval of products,
dependence on licensed intellectual property, as well as those that are
more fully described from time to time under the heading "Risk Factors"
in Guided Therapeutics' reports filed with the SEC, including Guided
Therapeutics' Annual Report on Form 10-K for the fiscal year ended
December 31, 2009 and subsequent quarterly reports.

For Guided Therapeutics
Media:
Cameron Associates
Deanne
Eagle, 917-837-5866
or
Guided Therapeutics
Bill Wells,
770-242-8723
or
Investors:
Cameron Associates
Alison
Ziegler, 212-554-5469
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