Johnson and Johnson reports Time magazine accolade for GeneSearch BLN Assay

Veridex, a Johnson & Johnson company, has announced that its GeneSearch Breast Lymph Node (BLN) Assay has been recognised as one of the top ten medical breakthroughs of 2007 by Time magazine.

The publication reports that the availability of the product give surgeons a quicker option to assess the spread of breast cancer through the accurate testing of the sentinel node for metastases during initial breast cancer surgery via the measurement of molecular markers.

Veridex reports that the GeneSearch BLN Assay can detect the spread of cancer to the lymph nodes with greater accuracy than existing methodologies and is the first gene-based intra-operative test approved for this use in the US.

Pat Whitworth, director of the Nashville Breast Centre, said: “With this new molecular pathology test, we have an opportunity to improve the standard of care for women with this disease.”

He added that, with doctors and patients having increased confidence regarding the results of their lymph node tests, they will both be able to make better informed decisions regarding their treatment.

Last month, Veridex presented positive test results for the GeneSearch BLN Assay at the annual San Antonio Breast Cancer Symposium.