LifeSci Advisors Initiates Coverage Of Ignyta

NEW YORK, NY--(Marketwired - February 14, 2014) - LifeSci Advisors, LLC and Ignyta, Inc. (OTCQB: RXDX)

• Lead Candidate RXDX-101 is a Potential First-in-Class Pan-Trk/ROS1/ALK Inhibitor Currently in a Phase 1/2 Trial
  
  
• Integrated Approach to Targeted Drug Discovery and Development of Companion Diagnostics
  
  
• Report Available for Download at http://www.lifesciadvisors.com/clients/ignyta/
  
  

LifeSci Advisors, LLC, a leading provider of investment research and investor relations services in the life sciences sector, today announced that it has initiated coverage of Ignyta, Inc. (OTCQB: RXDX), a biotechnology company developing personalized medicines in oncology. Ignyta uses genomic and epigenomic analyses to screen for novel drug targets and companion diagnostics to improve patient selection, treatment, and monitoring. The Company identified the Trk pathway as an important cancer driver and subsequently in-licensed RXDX-101, a pan-Trk/ROS1/ALK inhibitor and RXDX-102, a pan-Trk inhibitor from Nerviano Medical Sciences. RXDX-101 is currently being tested in the Phase 1 portion of a Phase 1/2 trial; the Phase 2 portion is expected to enroll several cohorts of patients whose cancers are driven by Trk, ROS1, or ALK molecular alterations.

"Ignyta is taking personalized medicine to the next level by conducting sophisticated upfront analysis to identify the most promising drug targets and also to identify informative biomarkers for patient selection," said Andrew I. McDonald, Ph.D., Founding Partner at LifeSci Advisors. "Management has extensive knowledge at all levels of the drug development process, including experience with targeted therapies, and has many opportunities for success with the current clinical program and promising preclinical pipeline."

Ignyta is testing lead candidate RXDX-101, an oral tyrosine kinase inhibitor of TrkA, TrkB, TrkC, ROS1, and ALK, in a Phase 1/2 dose-escalation trial and expects to begin enrollment of Phase 2 expansion cohorts in the second half of 2014. Each cohort is expected to enroll 15-20 patients with tumors that are positive for alterations to Trk, ROS1, or ALK at the recommended Phase 2 dose determined in Phase 1. Patients with several types of cancer will be enrolled, including non-small cell lung cancer and others, which together affect tens of thousands of Americans. The study design allows Ignyta to identify a patient population or populations with the highest chance of success for future clinical trials. Ignyta is also in the process of identifying additional novel drug targets and corresponding diagnostics.

In a 37 page Initiation Report by LifeSci Advisors, we explain the development path and preclinical data from Ignyta's programs. The report details Ignyta's strategy for identifying drug targets and companion diagnostics and how the Company plans to utilize that strategy going forward. We examine the landscape for receptor tyrosine kinases, the market for targeted cancer therapies, and critically examine competing products and development programs.

Dr. McDonald's full Initiation Report is available to download at no cost at the LifeSci Advisors website, www.lifesciadvisors.com. In addition to this Initiation Report, LifeSci Advisors will also provide ongoing coverage and event-based research updates on the Company as developments occur.

The LifeSci Advisors research team is led by Dr. Andrew I. McDonald, an industry veteran with more than 15 years of healthcare industry experience. Prior to co-founding LSA, Dr. McDonald was the Senior Biotechnology Analyst at Great Point Partners, a leading health care investment firm with over $500 million under management. Before Great Point, he was Co-Head of Healthcare Research and Lead Biotechnology Analyst at ThinkEquity Partners, a boutique investment banking firm focused on growth companies. Dr. McDonald holds a Ph.D. in organic chemistry from the University of California, Irvine, and, earlier in his career, worked as a medicinal chemist at both Pfizer and Cytokinetics.

About LifeSci Advisors:

LifeSci Advisors (LSA) is a leading research firm and communications consultancy dedicated to the life sciences industry. The firm provides strategic counsel, customized marketing communications, comprehensive research reports and investor relations services to companies that specialize in the discovery, development and commercialization of drugs, drug delivery systems, medical devices and diagnostics. To learn more about LSA, visit the company's website, www.lifesciadvisors.com.

Important Disclosures:

The research report described in this press release is not intended as an offering, recommendation, or a solicitation of an offer to buy or sell securities. The securities discussed in LSA research reports may be unsuitable for some investors depending on their specific investment objectives, financial status, risk profile, or particular needs. Investors should consider LSA reports as only a single factor in making their investment decisions and should not rely solely on these reports in evaluating whether or not to buy or sell the securities of the subject company. LifeSci Advisors has been compensated by the company that is the subject of the report described and future research reports, investor relations services, and general consulting services. Please read each report's full disclosures and analyst background on the LSA website, www.lifesciadvisors.com, before investing. LifeSci Advisors is not a registered investment adviser or broker-dealer.

Forward-looking statements:

This press release contains forward-looking statements subject to risks and uncertainties that could cause actual results to differ materially from those projected. These forward-looking statements represent LSA's judgment as of the date of this release. LifeSci Advisors disclaims, however, any intent or obligation to update these forward-looking statements.