Lucid Diagnostics announced recently it has entered a research agreement with the Fred Hutchinson Cancer Research Center to evaluate the center's Barrett's Esophagus progression biomarkers using Lucid's EsoCheck Esophageal Cell Collection Device.

The research program, "Biomarkers for the Detection of Cancer," will include human clinical studies, using the EsoCheck device, to determine whether a panel of the epigentetic-based methylated biomarkers can act as a noninvasive, office-based diagnostic test for patients with nondysplastic BE to monitor progression to dysplastic BE or esophageal adenocarcinoma. 

Under the agreement, Lucid Diagnostics has the exclusive option to license the cancer center's BE progression biomarkers for a year after the completion of a Phase II study demonstrating their accuracy.

Financial and other terms of the agreement were not disclosed.

Lucid Diagnostics, a subsidiary of PAVmed, recently launched its EsoGuard Esophageal DNA test as a commercial lab developed test and it was recently granted breakthrough device designation by the US Food and Drug Administration.