Maintaining a healthy weight is important for general health, but growing evidence reveals obesity’s role in the development of chronic illnesses and even deadly cancers.
Obesity is one of the most frequent chronic illnesses in the United States, with one out of every three adults in the nation being overweight. Excess weight has been linked to several health risks including diabetes, high blood pressure, heart disease and more recently, colorectal cancer.
Colorectal cancer is very common, with an estimated 150,000 new instances of colon and rectal cancer (CRC) per year, but the number of cases in young adults have been increasing rapidly over the last 20 years and excess weight may be to blame.
According to a new study published in JAMA Network OpenTrusted Source, being overweight or obese during early and middle adulthood increases the risk of developing this common and potentially deadly cancer.
The study comprised 135,161 people ranging in age from 55 to 74 and the findings suggest a strong relationship between high body fat, even in young adulthood, and the development of colon cancer later in life.
According to renowned physician and scientist Dr. William Li, excess body fat, particularly visceral fat around the organs can cause chronic inflammation, which is a known trigger for cancer development.
The findings from the study highlight the importance of prevention and also signal the need for colon cancer screening.
The US Preventive Services Task Force advises screening with stool DNA tests once every three years starting at age 45, however some individuals might want to consider testing earlier.
In the US, 16.6 million colonoscopies are carried out annually but around one-third of Americans between the ages of 50 and 75 have ever undergone a colon cancer screening.
Fortunately, molecular genetics cancer diagnostic company Mainz Biomed (NASDAQ:MYNZ) is working to commercialize its highly effective and simple-to-use at-home colorectal cancer (CRC) detection test ColoAlert in the US.
ColoAlert, which is already available in select European markets, is moving swiftly towards FDA approval following the company’s successful completion of the pre-submission process for its PMA pivotal clinical trial.
ColoAlert will be tested in the FDA-registered trial "ReconAAsense" to gain commercial approval in the United States. Once approved through a cooperative partner program with regional and national laboratory service providers, the company's business goal is to achieve scalable distribution across the country.
Expanding the Reach of Its Early Detection Tests Across Europe
Mainz Biomed has also been working to expand the presence of its flagship cancer screening test across European markets by partnering with third-party laboratories for test kit processing instead of the traditional method of operating a single facility.
On May 31, the company announced that it has expanded its commercial footprint into Poland through a partnership with TESTDNA, a leading independent laboratory in Poland.
According to Digestive Cancers Europe, Poland has a particularly high need for dependable non-invasive screening methods, as only around 20% of patients opt for colonoscopy.
With 19,000 new cases annually and approximately 12,000 colorectal cancer-related deaths, the necessity for effective at-home screening tests with early-stage detection is evident. The addressable market in Poland alone accounts for an estimated 21 million patients.
In the coming weeks, the two companies will work together to prepare and launch co-marketing activities to ensure successful commercialization in the Polish market.
Mainz Biomed has also expanded its reach within corporations following the launch of its corporate health program in Germany through a merger with BGM, a well-established corporate health program that serves employees at 48 of Germany's 50 largest enterprises.
On May 24, Mainz Biomed reported preliminary results from its colorectal cancer screening campaign with Zöller-Kipper GmbH via its BGM cooperation. Zöller-Kipper chose ColoAlert for their corporate health program, which comprises approximately 2,500 employees, in April 2023.
Employees found the online patient portal to be straightforward to use and comfortable, and they were able to easily access the portal, obtain a kit, and securely receive findings within five days, according to the results.