NanoString And MD Anderson Cancer Center To Collaborate On Development Of Multi-Omic Assays Simultaneously Profiling Gene And Protein Expression
HOUSTON and SEATTLE, April 1, 2015 (GLOBE NEWSWIRE) -- The University of Texas MD Anderson Cancer Center and NanoString Technologies, Inc. (Nasdaq:NSTG), a provider of life science tools for translational research and molecular diagnostic products, today announced a multi-year collaboration to accelerate the development and adoption of a revolutionary new type of assay based on NanoString's nCounter® Analysis System. The collaboration will involve the development of "multi-omic" assays, which simultaneously profile both gene and protein expression, with a primary focus on identifying important biomarkers in the burgeoning field of immuno-oncology as well as extending programs for targeting therapeutics.
"These types of assays are designed to provide a powerful tool for comprehensively probing tumor biology. These assays have the potential to capture the biology needed to optimize the use of new cancer therapeutics, especially in the dynamic field of immuno-oncology, where matching patients with the right combination of therapies is critical, initially in clinical trials and then in patient treatment," said Gordon Mills, M.D., Ph.D., chair of Systems Biology at MD Anderson. Mills is co-director of the Sheikh Khalifa Bin Zayed Al Nahyan Institute for Personalized Cancer Therapy and will lead the joint collaboration effort.
NanoString intends to introduce new research panels for the simultaneous measurement of gene and protein expression, with the beta launch of the first panel planned for the American Association for Cancer Research (AACR) Annual Meeting in Philadelphia, April 18-22, 2015. With the addition of this proteomic capability, the nCounter Analysis System will hold a unique distinction of having capabilities for concurrent genomic and proteomic analysis. NanoString's nCounter Analysis System is an automated and easy-to-use platform that utilizes a novel digital barcoding chemistry to deliver high precision multiplexed assays across a number of important research applications. NanoString's nCounter technology uses color-coded molecular barcodes that can hybridize directly to many different types of target molecules. nCounter assays are enzyme-free and capable of generating high-quality results from challenging sample types, including FFPE tissue.
"Our current PanCancer Pathway and Immune Profiling gene expression panels offer researchers powerful assays for understanding the tug-of-war between the drivers of tumor growth and the immune system's response," said Brad Gray, President and Chief Executive Officer of NanoString Technologies. "In collaboration with experts at MD Anderson, we will be adding a new proteomic dimension to these assays, and aiming to demonstrate their potential to inform drug development and selection."
Key objectives of the collaboration include: development of new multi-omic assays and signatures that profile key oncology disease pathways and immune response from tumor tissue; incorporation of these multi-omic assays into select clinical studies being run at MD Anderson to predict response and monitor response to cancer immuno-therapies and targeted therapies, both as single agents and combinations; and identification of clinically actionable proteomic markers across multiple tumor types. Under the terms of the agreement, NanoString is granted rights to research and diagnostic content developed within the scope of the collaboration.
At the 2015 AACR Annual Meeting in Philadelphia, Pennsylvania, Joe Beechem, Ph.D., Senior Vice President of Research & Development at NanoString Technologies, will provide an introduction to NanoString's nCounter-based multi-omic assays. The presentation is titled "Simultaneous multi-omic measurement of gene fusions, mRNA and proteins at 800-plex using single molecule optical barcodes" and is scheduled for Monday, April 20 at 10:00 AM Eastern time.
About NanoString Technologies, Inc.
NanoString Technologies provides life science tools for translational research and molecular diagnostic products. The company's nCounter Analysis System has been employed in life sciences research since it was first introduced in 2008 and has been cited in over 600 peer-reviewed publications. The nCounter Analysis System offers a cost-effective way to easily profile the expression of hundreds of genes, miRNAs, or copy number variations, simultaneously with high sensitivity and precision, facilitating a wide variety of basic research and translational medicine applications, including biomarker discovery and validation. The company's technology has now been applied to diagnostic use. The Prosigna Breast Cancer Prognostic Gene Signature Assay together with the nCounter Dx Analysis System is FDA 510(k) cleared for use as a prognostic indicator for distant recurrence of breast cancer.
For more information, please visit www.nanostring.com.
The NanoString Technologies logo, NanoString, NanoString Technologies, nCounter, and Prosigna are registered trademarks or trademarks of NanoString Technologies, Inc. in various jurisdictions.
About MD Anderson
The University of Texas MD Anderson Cancer Center in Houston ranks as one of the world's most respected centers focused on cancer patient care, research, education and prevention. MD Anderson is one of only 41 comprehensive cancer centers designated by the National Cancer Institute (NCI). For the past 25 years, MD Anderson has ranked as one of the nation's top two cancer centers in U.S. News & World Report's annual "Best Hospitals" survey. MD Anderson receives a cancer center support grant from the NCI of the National Institutes of Health (P30 CA016672).
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Forward-Looking Statements
This news release contains forward-looking statements within the meaning of Section 27A of the Securities Act of 1933 and Section 21E of the Securities Exchange Act of 1934 and the Private Securities Litigation Reform Act of 1995. These forward-looking statements include statements regarding the scientific and medical potential of our multi-omic technology to simultaneously profile gene and protein expression, and its ability to optimize the use of new cancer therapeutics in the field of immuno-oncology. Such statements are based on current assumptions that involve risks and uncertainties that could cause actual outcomes and results to differ materially. These risks and uncertainties, many of which are beyond our control, include market acceptance of our products; delays or denials of regulatory approvals or clearances for products or applications; delays or denials of reimbursement for diagnostic products; the impact of competition; the impact of expanded sales, marketing, product development and clinical activities on operating expenses; delays or other unforeseen problems with respect to manufacturing, product development or clinical studies; adverse conditions in the general domestic and global economic markets; as well as the other risks set forth in the company's filings with the Securities and Exchange Commission. These forward-looking statements speak only as of the date hereof. NanoString Technologies disclaims any obligation to update these forward-looking statements.
CONTACT: NanoString Contact: Leigh Salvo of Westwicke Partners leigh.salvo@westwicke.com 415-513-1281 MD Anderson Contact: Ron Gilmore Rlgilmore1@mdanderson.org 713-745-1898 