Oncimmune Holdings has announced the signing of an exclusive commercial partnership with R-Pharm JSC to use its EarlyCDT Lung for the early detection of lung cancer in Russia and the member states of the Eurasian Customs Union (Republic of Belarus, Kazakhstan, Armenia and Kyrgyzstan).

Within the terms of the agreement Oncimmune has granted an option to R-Pharm to extend the use of EarlyCDT Lung into the Commonwealth of Independent States countries of Azerbaijan, Turkmenistan, Tajikistan, Ukraine, Uzbekistan, and Georgia.

The five-year initial term aims to generate revenues of at least £5 million, including milestone payments of £2.75 million during this period. R-Pharm will commercialise EarlyCDT Lung in both lung cancer screening and nodule risk assessment in the region.

Dr Adam M Hill, CEO of Oncimmune commented: “Russia has significant potential as a screening market with a large high-risk population. Following the successful ECLS study, this partnership further highlights the growing international acceptance of EarlyCDT Lung’s utility as a screening device for early stage lung cancer.”

He also said that he was "Delighted to have Alexey and his team at R-Pharm join us to unlock the potential of screening in Russia, broadening further the commercial reach of our EarlyCDT product portfolio.”

Russia has 38 million smokers, the highest number in Europe. There were more than 60,000 lung cancer diagnoses in 2018, with approximately 55,000 deaths. The strategic intent for R-Pharm is to maximise the value of EarlyCDT Lung within a new screening programme in Moscow and, eventually, across Russia.

The Company will drive local product registration of EarlyCDT Lung in Russia, which has already begun.