- Lucid Diagnostics' (LUCD, Financial) EsoGuard® test shows 100% negative predictive value for detecting esophageal precancer.
- Potential 70% increase in a $60 billion market opportunity if results are replicated in a larger study.
- Secured $8 million NIH R01 grant for a five-year multicenter clinical study.
Lucid Diagnostics Inc. (LUCD), a commercial-stage medical diagnostics company, has reported promising results from a National Cancer Institute-sponsored study on its EsoGuard® Esophageal DNA Test. The test demonstrated a perfect 100% negative predictive value for detecting esophageal precancer, specifically Barrett's Esophagus, among patients without symptoms of gastroesophageal reflux disease (GERD).
The study revealed an 8.4% prevalence of Barrett's Esophagus in asymptomatic patients, a figure comparable to those with symptomatic GERD. These findings suggest that expanding EsoGuard's application to asymptomatic individuals could significantly broaden its market, aligning with guidelines from the American Gastroenterological Association.
Further validating its scientific approach, Lucid Diagnostics (LUCD, Financial) has secured an $8 million NIH R01 grant to support a five-year multicenter clinical study examining EsoGuard's efficacy in asymptomatic patients. Should these preliminary results be replicated, the company's market opportunity for EsoGuard, currently valued at approximately $60 billion, could expand by as much as 70%.
This development positions EsoGuard as a potential first-line screening option, promoting early detection and prevention of esophageal cancer by identifying precancerous conditions in a wider patient population.
