Verisante Technology continues funding for Aura device

Verisante Technology has renewed its Collaborative Research Agreement with the BC Cancer Agency, which will include Verisante’s contribution of approximately $250,000 to fund continued development of its Aura device for skin cancer detection. The money will also fund further research and development of the Verisante Core device for the detection of lung, gastrointestinal and cervical cancers, company reports state.

"The BC Cancer Agency is pleased with the progress Verisante is making to advance Aura and other cancer detection technologies developed by the agency, into the public domain," said Brian Schmidt, interim president, BC Cancer Agency. "We look forward to continued success in our partnership to bring innovations to improve cancer detection and diagnosis to the public."

Verisante Aura is a noninvasive optical system that uses Raman spectroscopy to biochemically analyze the skin. It can be used to evaluate skin lesions that may be clinically suspicious for melanoma, squamous cell carcinoma and/or basal cell carcinoma when a medical professional chooses to obtain additional information to rule out one of the above conditions before making a decision to biopsy. The device will help to automate the current process of diagnosis, allowing rapid scanning of skin lesions on at-risk individuals, improving patient outcomes and comfort, Verisante reports.

"Our collaboration with BC Cancer Agency and its exceptional team members have contributed extensively to Verisante's accomplishments to date and our ability to achieve our key milestones," said Thomas Braun, president and CEO, Verisante. "With this renewed partnership and the funds we have available, we expect to commercialize the Aura by the end of the year and make significant advancements in other technologies, such as the Verisante Core."

Verisante also announced that the first beta units of Verisante Aura have now been placed at the BC Cancer Agency Research Centre and the Skin Care Centre at Vancouver General Hospital as the initial steps in the field-testing process. The company reportedly plans to expand the field testing into additional dermatological and other skincare centers over the course of the summer. Completion of beta field testing should occur in the fall, leading to full commercial production by the end of the year, the company states.

Aura has been approved for sale in Canada, Europe and Australia.