Biohit Oyj Press Release

9.9.2026 at 10.00 am local time (EEST)

New Scientific Review Presents a Two-Step Strategy for Developing Primary Prevention of Gastric Cancer Using Biohit’s GastroPanel® and Acetium® Innovations

GastroPanel® non-invasively identifies significant gastric cancer risk conditions, while Acetium® Capsule reduces gastric exposure to carcinogenic acetaldehyde.

A recently published scientific review presents a potential two-step approach to developing primary prevention of gastric cancer by combining two complementary Biohit innovations: GastroPanel® for identifying individuals at increased risk of gastric cancer and Acetium® Capsule for reducing gastric exposure to carcinogenic acetaldehyde.

The review, authored by Professor Kari J. Syrjänen, was published in the World Journal of Gastroenterology, Hepatology and Endoscopy. (1) The article focuses particularly on Helicobacter pylori (H. pylori) infection and atrophic gastritis (AG), which are significant gastric cancer risk conditions, and on their identification using the non-invasive GastroPanel® test.

GastroPanel® combines four biomarkers – pepsinogen I, pepsinogen II, gastrin-17 and H. pylori IgG antibodies – and provides information on the condition and function of the gastric mucosa. The test is designed to identify findings associated with H. pylori infection and atrophic changes in the gastric mucosa, as well as to assess the status of gastric acid secretion.

GastroPanel® is not, in itself, a cancer test. Its significance in this strategy is based on its ability to identify gastric changes known to be associated with an increased risk of gastric cancer, on the basis of which an individual may, when appropriate, be referred for further investigations such as gastroscopy.

The Second Step of the Strategy: Reducing Acetaldehyde Exposure

The second component of the strategy focuses on acetaldehyde. The IARC has classified acetaldehyde associated with the consumption of alcoholic beverages as carcinogenic to humans (Group 1).

When gastric acidity is reduced or absent, as in the hypochlorhydric or achlorhydric stomach associated with atrophic gastritis, changes in the gastric microbiota may occur and the activity of acetaldehyde-producing microbes may increase. Long-term treatment with acid-suppressing medication may also alter the gastric environment. In these circumstances, local exposure of the gastric mucosa to acetaldehyde may increase.

Acetium® Capsule contains slow-release L-cysteine, which is released locally in the stomach and binds acetaldehyde, forming the stable and biologically inactive compound 2-methylthiazolidine-4-carboxylic acid (MTCA).

In clinical studies, slow-release L-cysteine has significantly reduced gastric acetaldehyde exposure. In a randomized, single-blinded, cross-over study conducted in patients with Helicobacter pylori-associated atrophic gastritis, gastric acetaldehyde exposure was reduced by 68% following administration of L-cysteine. In the same study, L-cysteine and MTCA concentrations remained in the gastric contents for approximately three hours. (2)

In another controlled study involving individuals receiving PPI treatment, slow-release L-cysteine reduced gastric acetaldehyde exposure by 67% in individuals with active ALDH2 and by 60% in individuals with deficient ALDH2 activity. The acetaldehyde-reducing effect was documented throughout the two-hour observation period. (3)

Diagnostics and Exposure Reduction Form a New Two-Step Screening-and-Prevention Strategy

“The central idea of this strategy has been to combine two complementary steps. First, GastroPanel® can help identify individuals with significant gastric cancer risk conditions. Second, Acetium® provides a means of reducing gastric exposure to a known carcinogenic compound, acetaldehyde. Together, these technologies form a rational new approach to gastric cancer risk management and may provide a basis for future primary prevention research,” says Professor Osmo Suovaniemi, Founder of Biohit Oyj.

According to the review, this two-step approach could be particularly relevant for individuals with atrophic gastritis and associated hypochlorhydria or achlorhydria. The strategy may also be relevant in other situations in which local gastric exposure to acetaldehyde is increased.

The key starting point of the strategy described above is early identification of risk and reduction of associated carcinogenic exposure.

GastroPanel® and Acetium® are therefore not alternatives to one another; rather, within this concept they represent two complementary steps:

1. Risk identification → GastroPanel®

2. Reduction of carcinogenic acetaldehyde exposure → Acetium®

This strategy shifts the focus from disease diagnosis alone toward risk identification and reduction of carcinogenic exposures.

Publications

1. Syrjänen KJ. Non-invasive Screening by Serological Biomarker Test (GastroPanel®) and Stomach Protection of High-Risk Individuals Using Slow-Release L-Cysteine (Acetium® Capsule): A Potential Strategy for the Primary Prevention of Gastric Cancer.World Journal of Gastroenterology, Hepatology and Endoscopy. 2026;31(8):1–16.

2. Hellström PM, Hendolin P, Kaihovaara P, et al. Slow-release L-cysteine capsule prevents gastric mucosa exposure to carcinogenic acetaldehyde: results of a randomised single-blinded, cross-over study of Helicobacter-associated atrophic gastritis.Scandinavian Journal of Gastroenterology. 2017;52(2):230–237. doi:10.1080/00365521.2016.1249403.

3. Maejima R, Iijima K, Kaihovaara P, et al. Effects of ALDH2 Genotype, PPI Treatment and L-Cysteine on Carcinogenic Acetaldehyde in Gastric Juice and Saliva after Intragastric Alcohol Administration.PLOS ONE. 2015;10(4). doi:10.1371/journal.pone.0120397.

For further information, please contact:
Biohit Oyj 
tel. +358 9 773 861
investor.relations@biohit.fi
www.biohit.fi

Biohit in brief

Biohit Oyj is a Finnish biotechnology company that operates internationally. Biohit’s mission is Innovating for Health – we produce innovative products and services to promote research and early diagnosis. Biohit is headquartered in Helsinki and has subsidiaries in Italy and the United Kingdom. Biohit’s series B share (BIOBV) is listed on Nasdaq OMX Helsinki in the Small Cap/Healthcare group. www.biohithealthcare.com