Exclusive: Delco firm preparing to launch oral cancer screening test kit

A Broomall, Pa., personalized medicine company is getting ready to launch its first product: a test kit for use in a dental office that can detect early-stage oral cancer from a small amount of saliva.

“We have no doubt this will save lives,” said Stephen M. Swanick, the chairman, CEO and founder of PeriRx. The company’s other initial investors are Dr. Neil Gottehrer, a practicing dentist; and Dr. Jack Martin, a cardiologist who is the company’s chief medical officer.

PeriRx plans to introduce SaliMark, its molecular DNA biomarker test to local dentists and hygienists at a free continuing-education course being held Nov. 6 in Havertown, Pa. The test kit will get a larger unveiling in December when it’s presented at the Greater New York Dental Meeting in New York City, a conference expected to draw 50,000 people including 25,000 dentists and 10,000 hygienists. [Read more…]