Prostate cancer screening with Stockholm3 reduces unnecessary biopsies and is cost-effective
STOCKHOLM, March 22, 2021. A3P Biomedical announced today that an independent and peer reviewed study showed health economic benefits using Stockholm3 versus PSA in a screening by invitation setting for prostate cancer. The results from the study demonstrated that Stockholm3 reduced unnecessary biopsies and was cost-effective compared to screening with the currently used PSA test.
In previous peer-reviewed studies, e.g. the pivotal STHLM3 study on 58,000 men published in Lancet Oncology, the Stockholm3 test demonstrated significant health benefits compared to PSA (current standard of care) including a 50 percent reduction of unnecessary biopsies (1). Other studies as has shown that Stockholm3 simultaneously leads to improved sensitivity for early detection of aggressive prostate cancer (1).
A recent independent and peer reviewed study now also concluded that, in addition to reducing unnecessary biopsies, there would be health economic benefits using Stockholm3 versus PSA in a screening by invitation setting for prostate cancer.
The main outcome of the study (The cost effectiveness of prostate cancer screening using the Stockholm3 test; Karlsson et al, Plos One, Feb 2020) is that prostate cancer screening every four years using the Stockholm3 test for men with an initial PSA ≥ 2.0 ng/mL was cost effective and reduced unnecessary biopsies compared with screening using the PSA test alone. The incremental cost-effectiveness ratio (ICER) for Stockholm3 vs PSA was €5,663/QALY, which is considered a low cost to improve Quality-Adjusted Life Years (QALY).
The study used data from the Stockholm PSA and Biopsy Register and the Stockholm3 test characteristics from the STHLM3 study (1).
“Independent studies have previously shown medical as well as health economic benefits using Stockholm3 in a clinical setting. This is the first study demonstrating the benefits in a screening by invitation scenario for the general population. The results are clear: Stockholm3 is cost-effective, provides significant medical advantages and reduces harm for the individual." Martin Steinberg, CEO of A3P Biomedical.
For additional information, please contact:
Martin Steinberg, CEO
telephone: +46 709 512068
Martin.steinberg@a3pbiomedical.com
About A3P Biomedical
A3P Biomedical is a diagnostics company headquartered in Stockholm, Sweden, focusing on prostate cancer. The company’s lead product is Stockholm3, a clinically and commercially validated blood test for early detection of aggressive prostate cancer. The test has been developed by scientists at Karolinska Institutet and validated in clinical studies including more than 80,000 men. A total of SEK 750 million has been invested in clinical research, product development and market validation activities of Stockholm3.
A3P Biomedical’s mission and vision is to radically improve the precision in prostate cancer diagnostics and treatment, thereby significantly reducing mortality and improving the lives of men.
About prostate cancer
Prostate cancer is the second most common male cancer, and the fifth leading cause of cancer related death in men worldwide. In 2020, 1.4 million men are expected to be diagnosed with prostate cancer and 378,000 deaths are expected. Incidence of prostate cancer is expected to increase by 70 percent until 2040, driven by an aging population.
About Stockholm3
Stockholm3 is a blood test that combines protein markers, genetic markers, clinical data, and a proprietary algorithm, to predict the risk of aggressive prostate cancer. Stockholm3 finds 100 percent more aggressive prostate cancers and reduce 50 percent of unnecessary biopsies compared to current practice with PSA (1).
Stockholm3 has been evaluated in clinical studies with more than 80,000 men. Data from the pivotal study, including 58,000 men, was published in The Lancet Oncology in 2015 (1).
Stockholm3 has not yet applied for national reimbursement in any country. However, based on robust peer-reviewed clinical data, leading Nordic healthcare providers such as Capio S:t Görans Hospital in Sweden and Stavanger University Hospital in Norway have replaced PSA with Stockholm3. Patients benefit from a more precise test (with increased sensitivity and specificity) and healthcare providers benefit from direct cost savings of 17 to 28 percent (1).
(1) Publications, results and clinical validation.