MolecularMD Obtains License to Commercialize Predictive Diagnostic Based on Actionable Biomarker, DDR2, for Uses in Lung Cancer and Targeted Kinase Therapy

Published: Jul 29, 2013

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PORTLAND, OR--(Marketwired - July 29, 2013) -

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MolecularMD Corp. announced today that it has entered into a license agreement granting the company exclusive patent rights to cancer diagnosis technology. Specifically, MolecularMD has obtained rights to commercialize patent-pending intellectual property pertaining to DDR2 mutations for diagnostic, prognostic and predictive uses for humans in the area of lung cancer. Such patent rights are jointly-owned by The Broad Institute and Dana-Farber Cancer Institute. The inventors named on the patent are Drs. Matthew Meyerson, Peter Hammerman, and Alexis Ramos.

About DDR2 Mutations in Lung Cancer
Research into understanding the genetic basis of cancer has led to identification of novel biomarkers that have been successfully exploited with targeted therapies. In non-small cell lung cancer (NSCLC), several such targets have been discovered for adenocarcinoma including EGFR, ALK, and MET. Unfortunately, these therapeutic targets are not relevant for squamous cell carcinoma (SCC), which is the second most frequent histological subtype in NSCLC. Recent discoveries identified mutations in the discoidin domain receptor 2 (DDR2) of SCC patient tumors that are oncogenic and also responsive to existing drugs targeting kinase inhibition. DDR2 is a membrane receptor tyrosine kinase involved in cell adhesion, proliferation and migration. In xenograft models, DDR2-mutant tumors regressed under treatment with the tyrosine kinase inhibitor, dasatinib. Remarkably, an SCC patient with no detectable EGFR mutation had a long-term response to the combination of erlotinib plus dasatinib. This patient was found to harbor a DDR2 mutation further suggesting that DDR2 mutations may be clinically relevant. Given the availability of a variety of therapies targeting tyrosine kinases, these findings provide a rationale for designing clinical trials for patients with SCC using existing FDA-approved drugs such as dasatinib, imatinib, nilotinib and ponatinib as well as novel, selective tyrosine kinase inhibitors for DDR2.

MolecularMD is developing DDR2 diagnostic assays, including next-generation sequencing tests, for clinical trials exploring efficacy of targeted therapies and DDR2 clinical utility. MolecularMD provides comprehensive clinical trial support through its CLIA-certified and CAP-accredited Clinical Reference Laboratory. In addition, MolecularMD provides IVD development and manufacturing capability to support companion diagnostic device commercialization. MolecularMD will also support commercialization of DDR2 technology through sublicensing to clinical reference laboratories and diagnostic assay developers and manufacturers.

According to Dr. Greg Cox, MolecularMD's Director of Licensing, "DDR2 is potentially the first actionable biomarker available for SCC patients, whose treatment options are currently limited to chemotherapy. It's exciting that these patients may benefit from existing FDA-approved targeted therapies, and we are eager to support clinical trials examining these novel treatment possibilities and enable widespread access to DDR2 diagnostics."

For additional information, please contact MolecularMD at 1-877-459-4979 or visit its website at www.molecularmd.com

About MolecularMD
MolecularMD Corporation develops and commercializes specialty molecular diagnostics for oncology applications. Its tests are designed to allow appropriate selection, monitoring and management of patients treated with molecularly-targeted cancer therapies. MolecularMD incorporates gold-standard and innovative technologies in providing its partners with the highest quality results. Assays are designed to meet clinical trial needs, and MolecularMD has appropriate systems and standards in place to enable development of companion diagnostic tests in conjunction with partners' novel anticancer agents. A private company based in Portland, Oregon, MolecularMD was founded by Dr. Brian Druker, director of the Knight Cancer Institute at Oregon Health & Science University, and Sheridan G. Snyder, entrepreneur and founder of Genzyme Corporation.