Tokyo (JCNN) - Alfresa Holdings (TSE: 2784) has announced that its wholly owned subsidiary Alfresa Pharma has launched in earnest its efforts to develop a reagent that will be used in the determination of Bradeion, a tumor molecular marker.

Co-discovered by the National Institute of Advanced Industrial Science and Technology (AIST) and School of Medicine, Tokai University, Bradeion is a kind of molecular marker specific for colon and prostate cancers.

Alfresa expects that the new reagent will enable the early diagnosis and treatment of cancers. Moreover, Alfresa will collaborate with several domestic universities including Tokai University in the course of clinical trials.