Armune: A signature for prostate cancer

Armune BioScience Inc. believes its serum-based tests for autoantibodies against prostate cancer antigens will provide a more reliable diagnosis than PSA tests, reducing the need for confirmatory biopsies and, for some patients, surgery, radiation and chemotherapy. The company plans to use its own CLIA lab to conduct the assays, which it expects to launch in 2010.

The prostate specific antigen (PSA) test is administered to men over the age of 50 during an annual physical. If a patient has a PSA level >=4 ng/ml, the patient is referred to a urologist for a biopsy...