Trylon, Pharmacia to Market Cervical Test

Pharmacia & Upjohn Inc. has agreed to jointly market in the U.S. a cervical screening test by Torrance-based Trylon Corp. that enhances the effectiveness of the traditional Pap smear test, the companies said. The test, privately held Trylon’s first product, significantly improves the sensitivity of the cervical screening exam in finding abnormalities compared with using a Pap smear alone, they said. The combination was tested in clinical trials involving more than 10,000 women. The test combines a patented visual examination technique called speculoscopy with the standard Pap smear into a simple cervical screening test. It features a chemical light that allows physicians to identify possible abnormalities during a routine cervical exam. Kalamazoo, Mich.-based Pharmacia & Upjohn’s stock fell 87.5 cents to close at $38.385 on the New York Stock Exchange