Q&A
- When was DiagnoCure founded?
- What is DiagnoCure’s core business?
- Where is DiagnoCure’s head office located?
- Does DiagnoCure have offices in other provinces or in other countries?
- How many employees work at DiagnoCure?
- On which trading market is DiagnoCure listed? What is the symbol?
- Where can I get a copy of the filings DiagnoCure is required to make?
- How can I stay up to date on information about DiagnoCure?
- What is DiagnoCure’s fiscal year?
- Who is on DiagnoCure’s Board of Directors?
- How many shares of DiagnoCure stock are outstanding?
- Are there major investors in DiagnoCure?
- Have you issued preferred shares?
- How many products has DiagnoCure brought to market?
- Does DiagnoCure commercialize its own products?
- Does DiagnoCure have any partnerships?
When was DiagnoCure founded?
DiagnoCure was founded in 1994. Dr Yves Fradet, who was one of the founders, is still part of the management. He was appointed Chairman of the Board of Directors of DiagnoCure on January 14, 2010, and President of DiagnoCure on February 15, 2010.
What is DiagnoCure’s core business?
DiagnoCure is a life sciences company that commercializes high-value cancer diagnostic tests and laboratory services that increase clinician and patient confidence in making critical treatment decisions.
Where is DiagnoCure’s head office located?
DiagnoCure’s head office is located in Quebec City, the city in which it was originally founded in 1994. The head office also hosts the R&D facilities of the Company.
Does DiagnoCure have offices in other provinces or in other countries?
Yes. DiagnoCure has a service laboratory in West Chester, near Philadelphia in Pennsylvania, U.S.A. The Company also has sales and marketing team members in New York, Boston, and San Francisco.
How many employees work at DiagnoCure?
As at October 31, 2009, DiagnoCure had 48 employees, 31 in Quebec City and 17 in the U.S.A.
On which trading market is DiagnoCure listed? What is the symbol?
DiagnoCure’s stock is traded on the Toronto Stock Exchange in Canada (www.tsx.com) under the symbol CUR.
Where can I get a copy of the filings DiagnoCure is required to make?
You can get copies of the Company’s mandatory filings on SEDAR www.sedar.com
How can I stay up to date on information about DiagnoCure?
You can subscribe to DiagnoCure’s News Alerts by clicking here
What is DiagnoCure’s fiscal year?
DiagnoCure’s fiscal year starts November 1 and ends October 31. The Company’s quarter ends are January 31, April 30, July 31 and October 31. Typically, an annual general meeting of the shareholders is held in March.
Who is on DiagnoCure’s Board of Directors?
For a current list of names and biographies of the Company’s directors, click here.
How many shares of DiagnoCure stock are outstanding?
As at October 31, 2009, there were 43 million outstanding ordinary shares of DiagnoCure stock.
Are there major investors in DiagnoCure?
DiagnoCure’s shareholders base is composed of institutional investors and retail investors. No single investor holds a majority position.
Have you issued preferred shares?
In May 2009, as part of their collaboration amendment, Gen-Probe acquired 4.9 million shares of newly issued DiagnoCure convertible preferred stock for US$5.0 million.
How many products has DiagnoCure brought to market?
DiagnoCure brought three products to market since 1994.
The first one was a diagnostic test for bladder cancer, ImmunoCyt™/uCyt+™, which was launched in 2000. In 2008, the Company divested this product to Scimedx because it no longer fit within the molecular diagnostic focus of DiagnoCure.
The second test DiagnoCure launched in 2003 was a PCA3-based test for prostate cancer, uPM3™. The Company out-licensed the PCA3 marker to Gen-Probe. In 2005, Gen-Probe introduced a second generation of a PCA3 test in the U.S. under a limited format (analyte specific reagents), and in 2006, it launched PROGENSA® PCA3 under full CE mark in Europe. DiagnoCure receives royalty payments from PCA3 sales. Gen-Probe recently began a clinical study designed to meet the U.S. Food and Drug Administration’s (FDA) requirements for full commercialization of the PCA3 test in the U.S. The study is expected to be completed in 2010, after which, Gen-Probe intends to submit a Premarket Approval Application to the FDA.
In 2008, DiagnoCure launched its third test, the Previstage™ GCC Colorectal Cancer Staging Test. This test is offered directly to physicians by the Company’s U.S. clinical laboratory, DiagnoCure Oncology Laboratories. The test detects occult metastases in lymph nodes removed during the colorectal cancer surgery, identifying patients who may be at increased risk of developing recurrent disease and who could most benefit from adjuvant chemotherapy.
Does DiagnoCure commercialize its own products?
Depending on the type of test, the target market, and the geographic area, DiagnoCure may decide to commercialize its tests through different channels:
- Through its own sales team (for example, the Previstage™ GCC test in the U.S.), or
- Through distribution partnerships (for example, the Previstage™ GCC test which is now distributed by Lab21 in the U.K.), or
- By granting a license on the marker or test (for example, the PCA3 marker on which DiagnoCure granted a worldwide license to Gen-Probe).
Does DiagnoCure have any partnerships?
DiagnoCure has several academic and commercial partners. One major partner is Gen-Probe Inc. for the development and commercialization of the PCA3 test for prostate cancer. In 2009, Gen-Probe invested US$5 million in DiagnoCure.