WHO cervical cancer strategy – TruScreen Market Opportunity

NZX Announcement
10 October 2019

WHO cervical cancer elimination strategy opens up
TruScreen’s market opportunity

Cervical cancer technology company TruScreen (NZX:TRU) (‘The Company’) expects that the
World Health Organisation’s (WHO) strategy to eliminate cervical cancer worldwide could
provide a significant market opportunity for its real-time screening technology for cervical
cancer.

The WHO strategy document, entitled “Global Strategy Towards the Elimination of Cervical
Cancer as a Public Health Problem”
1
, opens up a favourable macro environment for the
Company’s screening technology.
The document calls for a comprehensive global approach to put the 184 WHO member countries
on the same path to eliminate cervical cancer by the end of the century and proposes screening
targets for the period 2020-2030.
To achieve cervical cancer elimination in the shortest period, WHO notes that screening,
vaccination and treatment must be pursued in combination. It proposes a target of 70 per cent
of women between 35 and 45 years of age in WHO member countries to be screened with a high-
precision test by 2030.
WHO notes that to achieve this target, innovative and optimal service delivery models need to
be adopted, particularly in low- and middle-income countries (LMICs) where cervical cancer
incidence and mortality rates are high. TruScreen is currently the only electro-optical real-time
cervical screening method available in LMICs.
The WHO strategy is currently in draft stage. Subject to WHO member countries consultation,
the strategy is expected to be tabled for adoption at the 73
rd
World Health Assembly in May 2020
in Geneva, Switzerland.
“We look forward to the finalised WHO cervical cancer global strategy in 2020 which we believe
supports the current favourable macro environment for the Company,” said TruScreen CEO
Martin Dillon.
“We continue to expand our presence in LMICs by strengthening relations with Key Opinion
Leaders, NGOs and government organisations.”

1
https://www.who.int/docs/default-source/documents/cervical-cancer-elimination-draft-
strategy.pdf?sfvrsn=380979d6_4

TruScreen aims to make its device the screening method of choice for LMICs. The Truscreen
technology was acknowledged in the May 2019 Unitaid/WHO/Clinton Health Access Initiative
(CHAI) report presented to the WHO Assembly in Geneva, Switzerland, as a suitable cervical
cancer screening method for use in LMICs.
TruScreen continues to make strong progress in its market development programs in key LMICs,
including in:
• China – A recent 20,000 patient trial conducted by the Chinese Obstetrics and
Gynaecology Association (COGA) produced positive interim results
• Zimbabwe – The National AIDS Council selected TruScreen to provide screening for HIV-
affected women
• Mexico – TruScreen facilitated a meeting between Unitaid strategy and programme
managers and the National Institute of Cancer (INCan) for Mexico’s cervical cancer
screening strategy. INCan is a decentralised organisation operating under Mexico’s
Ministry of Health, providing specialised medical care to cancer patients
• Vietnam – A TruScreen pilot programme approved by the country’s Ministry of Health
Professional Advisory Committee has commenced. The programme will evaluate the
Company’s technology in 1,000 patients prior to a national rollout.
Globally, cervical cancer is the fourth most common cancer in women, with more than half a
million diagnosed with the disease in 2018
2
. In LMICs, cervical cancer is the second most common
form of cancer among women. About 90 per cent of deaths from cervical cancer occur in these
countries
3
.

- ENDS -


For more information visit www.TruScreen.com or contact:

TruScreen
Martin Dillon
CEO
martindillon@truscreen.com

TruScreen
Guy Robertson
CFO
guyrobertson@truscreen.com
Investors
Investor Relations
Phone: +61 2 9237 2801
TruScreen@we-buchan.com



2
World Health Organisation, Cervical Cancer, WHO International, 27 September 2019,
https://www.who.int/cancer/prevention/diagnosis-screening/cervical-cancer/en/
3
Ibid

About TruScreen:
TruScreen is a Cervical Cancer Screening Device which
offers the latest technology in cervical screening,
providing real-time, accurate detection of pre-
cancerous and cancerous cervical cells to help improve
the health and well-being of women around the world.
TruScreen’s real-time cervical cancer technology utilises
a digital wand which is placed on the surface of the cervix
to measure electrical and optical signals from the
surrounding tissues. A sophisticated proprietary algorithm
framework is utilised to detect pre-cancerous change, or
cervical intraepithelial neoplasia (CIN), by optical and
electrical measurement of cervical tissue.

TruScreen offers an alternative approach to cervical screening, resolving many of the ongoing
issues with Pap tests including failed samples, poor patient follow up, patient discomfort and
the need for supporting laboratory infrastructures. As such, TruScreen target market is lower
income countries where no large scale cervical cancer screening programs and infrastructure
are in place, such as; China, Mexico, Africa, Russia and India. TruScreen’s cervical cancer
screening device is EC certified for use throughout Europe and CFDA approved for sale in China.
The global market potential for TruScreen is significant. At saturation, hundreds of millions of
women could benefit from this accurate and inexpensive cervical cancer screening model.

For more information, visit our website at www.truscreen.com or on LinkedIn and Facebook.