The bio-pharmaceutical company Immunomedics Inc. (IMMU) said Thursday it’s blood test using an antibody may be able to identify early stage pancreatic cancer better than other tests.

Using the clivatuzumab anti-body, the blood test showed a 62% sensitivity in detecting stage-1 pancreatic cancer i. e. cancer confined to the pancreas, a 86% sensitivity in detecting stage-2 pancreatic cancer and 91% sensitivity for later-stage cancers, which have all spread.

The challenge for pancreatic cancer, so far, has been an early diagnosis, as early detection of the disease improves five-year survival rates by 20%.

The study conducted on 68 patients who had undergone pancreatic cancer surgery, including 19 healthy patients was presented at the annual Gastrointestinal Cancers Symposium in Orlando, Fla.

Immunomedics believes their new anti-body blood test will help diagnose 42,000 new cases of pancreatic cancer in the U. S. in 2010.

Currently, clivatuzumab is being studied for treating pancreatic cancer that is in an advanced stage.

The news saw Immunomedics Inc.’s shares rise 32 cents or 7.6% to $4.55. Over the last 52 weeks, the company’s stock has been trading between 84 cents and $7.16.