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European Consortium Developing Cancer Screening System for the Gastrointestinal Tract
OTTAWA, CANADA, January 17, 2007 – A European consortium,
comprised of leading European technology companies, research institutes
and universities, announced that it has received approval from the
European Commission of the Sixth EU Framework Program of Research and
Technological Development (“FP6 commission”) to develop an integrated
imaging–biosensing system to screen for cancer of the gastrointestinal
(GI) tract. The “Nano-based capsule-Endoscopy with Molecular Imaging and
Optical biopsy” (NEMO) project kicked off in Tel-Aviv at the end of
November.
In addition to Given Imaging (Israel), the project coordinator, the
consortium includes Zarlink Semiconductor (Sweden and UK), Fraunhofer
Institute for Biomedical Engineering, Israelitic Hospital and Indivumed
(Germany), Imperial College of Science, Technology and Medicine (London,
England), ITC-irst Research Institute (Italy), The Hebrew University of
Jerusalem, Novamed and Ernst &Young (Israel). The NEMO Group will invest
€4.7 million over the next three years, of which the European Commission
will contribute €2.8 million.
The objective of the NEMO project is to increase patient compliance with
currently recommended screening guidelines by developing an advanced
cancer screening system that is patient-friendly, highly sensitive and
specific for early detection of cancer. To achieve this NEMO will
converge optical technologies with Nano-technologies, biosensing and
maneuvering technologies to create a unique PillCam capsule endoscope
capable of secretion analysis and the detection of marked and deep
tissue disorders. The consortium believes the combination of the image
and molecular analysis to mark the tumor may provide a novel and
effective medical device for mass screening for GI cancer.
"We are proud to advance our research in the biosensing field with such
leading research and industrial organizations,” said Elisha Rabinovitz,
DSc, Chief Scientist of Given Imaging and the consortium coordinator.
“This project further exemplifies Given’s commitment to develop new and
innovative solutions to help physicians treat their patients and could
represent a revolutionary platform of biopsy free procedures.”
About Zarlink Semiconductor
For over 30 years, Zarlink Semiconductor has delivered semiconductor
solutions that drive the capabilities of voice, enterprise, broadband
and wireless communications. The Company’s success is built on its
technology strengths including voice and data networks, optoelectronics
and ultra low-power communications. For more information, visit www.zarlink.com.
About Given Imaging Ltd.
Given Imaging is redefining gastrointestinal diagnosis by developing,
producing and marketing innovative, patient-friendly products for
detecting gastrointestinal disorders. The company's technology platform
is the PillCam™ Platform, featuring the PillCam video capsule, a
disposable, miniature video camera contained in a capsule, which is
ingested by the patient, a sensor array, data recorder and RAPID®
software. Given Imaging has three commercially available capsules: the
PillCam SB video capsule to visualize the entire small intestine which
is currently marketed in the United States and in more than 50 other
countries; the PillCam ESO video capsule to visualize the esophagus; and
the Agile™ patency capsule to determine the free passage of the PillCam
capsule in the GI tract. The PillCam COLON video capsule to visualize
the colon has been cleared for marketing in the European Union, and
multi-center clinical trials are underway in Europe and the U.S. A
capsule to visualize the stomach is under development. More than 400,000
patients worldwide have benefited from the PillCam capsule endoscopy
procedure. Given Imaging's headquarters, manufacturing and R&D
facilities are located in Yoqneam, Israel; it has direct sales and
marketing operations in the United States, Germany and France, and local
offices in Japan, Spain and Australia. For more information, visit http://www.givenimaging.com.
Shareholders and other individuals wishing to receive, free of charge,
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Investor Relations.
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subcontractors; order cancellations and deferrals by our customers;
increasing price and product competition; and other factors referenced
in our Annual Report on Form 20-F. Investors are encouraged to consider
the risks detailed in this filing.
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For more information:
Edward Goffin
Media Relations
613 270-711
edward.goffin@zarlink.com
Mike
McGinn
Investor Relations
613-270-7210
mike.mcginn@zarlink.com
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