OncoMed Pharmaceuticals, Inc. Granted Fundamental Patent For Identifying Therapeutics Targeting Cancer Stem Cells

MOUNTAIN VIEW, Calif., Oct. 17 /PRNewswire/ -- OncoMed Pharmaceuticals, pioneering the development of novel therapeutics that target cancer stem cells, today announced that the U.S. Patent and Trademark Office has issued U.S. Patent No. 7,115,360 titled "Isolation and Use of Solid Tumor Stem Cells."

"Our latest patent provides us with important intellectual property as we develop new means for designing and testing therapies that target cancer stem cells," commented John Lewicki, Ph.D., Senior Vice President Research and Development. "We believe that our approach using isolated and purified cancer stem cells will be a better predictor of the efficacy of new cancer therapeutics compared with current conventional approaches in cancer research."

The patent covers OncoMed's proprietary approach for testing of cancer stem cell therapeutics to inhibit human tumor growth in preclinical models. Cancer stem cells are a rare subset of cells in tumors that have the unique ability to function as tumor-initiating cells and drive tumor growth, disease recurrence after treatment and metastases. The patented method enables OncoMed to identify potential cancer therapeutics that inhibit tumor growth following injection of cancer stem cells obtained from a patient's tumor.

"Our latest patent covers an important tool for identifying and testing new cancer therapeutics. Using this novel technology, OncoMed is evaluating a number of potential cancer therapeutics," said Paul Hastings, OncoMed's President and Chief Executive Officer. "The issuance of this patent underscores the significant technological advances we have made in isolating cancer stem cells and using these cells to discover new cancer therapeutics. Our patent portfolio covering cancer stem cell technology is broad and emphasizes OncoMed's leadership position in cancer stem cell technology and the development of new therapeutics targeting those cells."

The patent, exclusively licensed to OncoMed, is based on the research of OncoMed founder Dr. Michael Clarke, et al., while at the University of Michigan School of Medicine.

About OncoMed Pharmaceuticals

OncoMed Pharmaceuticals is discovering and developing new treatments targeting cancer stem cells, a recently discovered type of cell believed to seed the growth of cancers and underlie cancer's ability to metastasize. In its brief history, the company has become a leader in the research of cancer stem cells and the identification of novel targets on the cancer stem cell.

OncoMed is funded by leading venture capital firms, including Adams Street Partners, Bay Partners, De Novo Ventures, Latterell Venture Partners, Morgenthaler Ventures, US Venture Partners and The Vertical Group. Information can also be found at the company's website www.oncomed.com.

CONTACT: Paul Hastings, President and CEO, OncoMed Pharmaceuticals,+1-650-938-9400, or phastings@oncomed.com; or Karen L. Bergman,+1-415-575-1509, or kbergman@bccpartners.com, or Nan Foster,+1-415-307-6955, or nfoster@bccpartners.com, both of BCC Partners, forOncoMed Pharmaceuticals

Web site: http://www.oncomed.com/