CIPH Ciphergen Biosystems (MM)

Data Presented at American Association for Cancer Research Annual Meeting FREMONT, Calif., April 16 /PRNewswire-FirstCall/ -- Ciphergen Biosystems, Inc. (NASDAQ:CIPH) today presented data on the discovery of several protein biomarkers that may be potential diagnostic markers in detection of early- stage ovarian cancer. These findings support one of three diagnostic programs that Ciphergen currently has under development for ovarian cancer. These findings were presented at the American Association for Cancer Research Annual Meeting in Los Angeles, Calif. "Development of a reliable test for the diagnosis of early-stage ovarian cancer should contribute to improving overall survival in patients," said Robert C. Bast, Jr., M.D., Vice President of Translational Medicine, and Professor of Experimental Therapeutics at, M.D. Anderson Cancer Center, University of Texas, co-author of the presentation and member of the Ciphergen Scientific Advisory Board. Ciphergen and its collaborators discovered four proteins in urine that separate women with early cancer from healthy individuals with a sensitivity of 56% and a specificity of 95%. These results suggest the possibility that these proteins in combination with other biomarkers, could aid in the diagnosis of early-stage ovarian cancer. To elucidate these findings Ciphergen employed protein expression profiling methods to analyze urine samples from 400 women, including 288 women with epithelial ovarian cancer, 52 with early stage disease and 176 with late stage disease, 74 women with benign ovarian disease and 98 normal, healthy controls. "These promising results provide the foundation for additional studies across a larger population of women," said Eric T. Fung, M.D., Ph.D., Chief Scientific Officer for Ciphergen Biosystems. "By demonstrating that these findings are reproducible, Ciphergen hopes to advance these markers beyond the clinical validation process and into clinical trials." About Ciphergen's Ovarian Cancer Diagnostic Program Ciphergen has multiple ovarian cancer diagnostic tests in development, including an ovarian cancer triage test designed to distinguish between benign and malignant pelvic masses, one to predict recurrence of ovarian cancer and a test to aid physicians in identifying women considered at high risk for ovarian cancer. These findings support Ciphergen's diagnostic program with high-risk, early-stage disease. Ciphergen is currently enrolling patients in a prospective clinical trial for its ovarian cancer triage test to evaluate whether the positive predictive value of the test is better than the current standard of care -- physical and radiological exam -- for distinguishing benign from malignant ovarian tumors. Enrollment information is available at clinicaltrials.gov, identifier NCT00436189. Ciphergen's comprehensive diagnostic development program is being conducted with several leading collaborators at The Johns Hopkins School of Medicine, The University of Texas M.D. Anderson Cancer Center, University College London, and the University of Kentucky. About Ovarian Cancer Commonly known as the "silent killer," ovarian cancer leads to approximately 15,000 deaths each year in the United States, according to the American Cancer Society. Approximately 20,000 new cases are diagnosed each year, with the majority in patients diagnosed with late stage disease where the cancer has spread beyond the ovary. The prognosis is poor in these patients, leading to the high mortality from this disease. A diagnostic test is needed that can provide adequate predictive value to stratify patients with a pelvic mass into high risk of invasive ovarian cancer versus those with low risk, as well as a screening test for the diagnosis of early-stage ovarian cancer, which is essential for improving overall survival in patients. Ovarian cancer has up to a 90% cure rate following surgery and/or chemotherapy if detected in stage 1. About Ciphergen Ciphergen Biosystems, Inc. is dedicated to the discovery, development and commercialization of novel high-value diagnostic tests that help physicians diagnose, treat and improve outcomes for patients. Ciphergen, along with its prestigious scientific collaborators, has ongoing diagnostic programs in oncology, cardiology and women's health with an initial focus in ovarian cancer. Based in Fremont, California, more information about Ciphergen can be found on the Web at http://www.ciphergen.com/. Safe Harbor Statement This news release contains forward-looking statements that involve significant risks and uncertainties, including those discussed below and others that can be found in Ciphergen's Form 10-K for the year ended Dec. 31, 2006, and in Ciphergen's periodic reports on Form 10-Q and Form 8-K. Ciphergen is providing this information as of the date of this news release and does not undertake any obligation to update any forward-looking statements contained in this document as a result of new information, future events or otherwise. The scientific information discussed in this news release is preliminary and investigative. No forward-looking statement can be guaranteed and actual results may differ materially from those Ciphergen projects. Discovery or identification of new protein biomarkers cannot be guaranteed and movement beyond the clinical validation process to a test that successfully screens patients for ovarian cancer is uncertain; consequently, there can be no guarantee that the identification of potential diagnostic markers will be successful or be an appropriate basis for a commercially available diagnostic kit for screening ovarian cancer. DATASOURCE: Ciphergen Biosystems, Inc. CONTACT: Sue Carruthers, Investor Relations of Ciphergen Biosystems, Inc., +1-510-505-2233; or media, Lori Murray of WeissComm Partners, +1-415-946-1070 Web site: http://www.ciphergen.com/

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