Benzinga | Nov 19, 2021 08:21AM EST

Biomerica Forms Scientific Advisory Board For Colorectal Cancer Screening

* Chaired by Dr. Brooks Cash, Chief of Gastroenterology and Hepatology at the University of Texas Health Center at Houston

* Scientific Advisory Board to guide on programs to screen and test patients in US and other countries where colorectal cancer screening is limited due to cost or insufficient laboratory infrastructure

* Biomerica's two-minute at home test detects fecal occult (hidden) blood, an early warning sign of colorectal cancer

* At home test is now available at Walmart and other retailers

IRVINE, Calif., Nov. 19, 2021 (GLOBE NEWSWIRE) -- Biomerica Inc. (NASDAQ:BMRA) today announced that Dr. Brooks Cash, one the nation's most recognized leaders in Gastroenterology medicine, has agreed to chair Biomerica's newly formed Colorectal Cancer Scientific Advisory Board ("SAB"). The SAB will guide and help expand the use of the EZ Detect product in Colorectal Cancer screenings and reaching underserved patient populations. Other key opinion leaders in the Gastroenterology field will be joining Dr. Cash on this SAB.

Colorectal cancer ("CRC") is the second most common cause of cancer death in the United States. In 2020, an estimated 147,950 individuals were diagnosed with CRC and an estimated 53,200 died from the disease, including 17,930 cases and 3,640 deaths in individuals under the age of 50.

Brooks Cash, M.D., serves as Chief of the Gastroenterology, Hepatology, and Nutrition Division at the University of Texas Health Science Center at Houston. Dr. Cash was previously Chief of the Gastroenterology Division at the University of South Alabama in Mobile, AL. Dr. Cash also served for 24 years in the United States Navy, and was stationed at Bethesda Naval Hospital and the Walter Reed National Military Medical Center in the Washington, D.C. area. During his time at Bethesda Naval and Walter Reed he served as Chief of Gastroenterology, Chief of Medicine, and finally as the Deputy Commander for Medicine at both institutions.

Dr. Cash is a Diplomat of the American Board of Gastroenterology. He is a Fellow of the American College of Physicians, American College of Gastroenterology, American Gastroenterological Association, and the American Society for Gastrointestinal Endoscopy. He has been course director for national ACG Postgraduate meetings. Dr. Cash has also served on the Rome Foundation Committee for Functional Gastrointestinal Disorders and has authored over 150 articles and book chapters on a wide variety of gastrointestinal topics including irritable bowel syndrome, chronic constipation, opioid induced constipation, colorectal cancer screening, CT colonography, and acid-peptic disorders. He serves as an Associate Editor for the American Journal of Gastroenterology, is an editorial board member and reviewer for multiple internal medicine and gastroenterology medical journals, and is a sought-after lecturer at national and international scientific meetings.

Biomerica's EZ Detect colorectal screening product is the simplest at home test to detect occult (hidden) blood in patient stools, an early warning sign of colorectal cancer. The test does not require handling of stools or dietary restrictions. An EZ Detect pad is dropped onto the toilet water surface after a bowel movement. A change in the pad's color to blue, which would appear within two minutes, indicates the presence of blood in the stool and need for further medical attention. The pad is then simply flushed.

Zackary Irani, Chairman and Chief Executive Officer, stated, "We are excited to have Dr. Cash chair our Colorectal Screening Scientific Advisory Board to assist Biomerica with guiding our FDA cleared diagnostic test to help patients suffering from gastroenterology problems including colorectal cancer. We understand the importance of working closely with a strong scientific advisory board to assist us in driving the development and advancement of important diagnostic tests. This is evidenced by the initial success of our InFoods(r) IBS diagnostic guided therapy, in which our scientific advisory board played a vital role. With the addition of Doctor Cash and other SAB members, we are building an equally strong scientific advisory board in the colorectal cancer space to help expand the use of the EZ Detect product and to potentially improve the lives of millions of people worldwide."