Konica Minolta Opto, Inc (KMOT) of Tokyo has extended its licensing agreement to co-develop non-invasive cancer detection products with Guided Therapeutics, Inc (GT). Under terms of the agreement, KMOT will pay GT a US$ 750,000 fee to extend the agreement for one year. This is in addition to the approximately US$ 1.59 million to develop the first product announced in February 2010.

The new products, for the detection of lung and esophageal cancer, are based on GT’s LightTouch non-invasive cervical cancer detection technology, which is undergoing the US Food and Drug Administration’s premarket approval process. Lung cancer is the most prevalent cancer in the world and esophageal cancer ranks just below cervical cancer in newly diagnosed cases, according to the World Health Organization (WHO).

“We have developed a strong working relationship with Konica Minolta Opto and believe that this most recent agreement will lead us well down the path to a second product built upon our non-invasive cancer scanning platform technology,” said Mark L Faupel, president and CEO of GT.

“We are pleased to continue our relationship with GT to co-develop and market noninvasive cancer detection products,” said Akira Suzuki, general manager, LC Business Department for KMOT. “We believe that by working together, our two companies can become the leading developers of new technology for early detection of disease that leads to cancer.”

According to the WHO, 1.2 million new cases of lung cancer are diagnosed every year across the world. In the US, lung cancer is the leading cause of cancer death, with 215,000 new cases and more than 161,000 deaths, according to the American Cancer Society. Worldwide, new cases of esophageal cancer are estimated at 410,000, with more than 16,000 new cases and more than 14,000 deaths in the US In Japan, home to KMOT, lung cancer kills more than 63,000 and esophageal cancer is responsible for more than 11,300 deaths, annually. A precursor to esophageal cancer is Barrett’s esophagus, which is caused by excessive acid reflux.

Guided Therapeutics is developing a rapid and painless test for the early detection of disease that leads to cervical cancer.

Konica Minolta Opto was inaugurated on October 1, 2003, following the integration of the former Konica Opto Corporation and the optics division parented by the optical system operations of the former Minolta Co, Ltd.