Personal Genome Diagnostics And Human Longevity Inc. Sign Cancer Genomics Agreement

January 12, 2015 |

4 min read

BALTIMORE and LA JOLLA, Calif., Jan. 12, 2015 /PRNewswire/ -- Personal Genome Diagnostics, Inc. (PGDx), a provider of advanced cancer genome analysis and testing services, and Human Longevity, Inc. (HLI), the human health information technology and health care company, today announced that HLI will have access to PGDx’s cancer genomics solutions to expand its analysis of cancer genomes, including CancerSelect, PlasmaSelect, CancerXome, METDetect and CancerComplete. HLI has also licensed the PGDx Enterprise Solution platform, which is a turnkey solution that enables laboratories to conduct their own advanced cancer genomic testing using next-generation sequencing.

PGDx co-founder and Chief Medical Officer Luis Diaz, MD, noted, “As pioneers in the field of cancer genomics, we are delighted to be collaborating with HLI, a visionary company co-founded by genomics legend J. Craig Venter.” PGDx co-founder and Chief Scientific Officer Victor Velculescu, MD, PhD, added, “HLI’s commitment to changing the way medicine is practiced by systematically harnessing genomics data to address aging-associated diseases aligns well with our goal of transforming the treatment of cancer by enabling researchers, physicians and patients to use genomics data to advance and personalize cancer therapy.”

PGDx applies its advanced genomic methods to identify and characterize the unique genomic alterations in tumors using tissue and liquid biopsies from cancer patients. The ES platform utilizes PGDx’s proprietary bioinformatics software pipeline that provides industry-leading sensitivity and specificity, while maximizing accuracy in detecting multiple types of tumor-specific mutations. PGDx’s targeted gene panels focus on well-characterized genes that have been selected for their high biologic importance in cancer and their relevance to drug targets and pathways.

HLI is building the world’s largest and most comprehensive database of human genomic and phenotype data. The company has signed agreements with academic medical centers and large biotechnology companies to sequence and analyze human genomes, including those of cancer patients, to determine more precise treatments and more details about the specific tumor and cancer in that patient. The PGDx suite of solutions will enable even greater precision and detail for HLI’s customers and their patients.

As part of the agreement, HLI will perform sequencing and analysis for select PGDx customers and for their own research activities.

“Having access to PGDx’s capabilities, targeted cancer panels and Enterprise Solution platform for advanced cancer genomic testing is another important component to our already comprehensive and accurate database of human biological data,” said J. Craig Venter, PhD, HLI’s Co-founder, Chairman, and Chief Executive Officer. “We are excited to be partnering with PGDx and the extensive cancer genomics expertise and technology innovations developed by the world-class research team at PGDx.”

About Personal Genome Diagnostics
Personal Genome Diagnostics (PGDx) provides advanced cancer genome analyses to oncology researchers, drug developers, clinicians and patients. The company uses advanced genomic methods and its deep expertise in cancer biology to identify and characterize the unique genomic alterations in tumors. PGDx’s proprietary methods for genome sequencing and analysis are complemented by its extensive experience in cancer genomics and clinical oncology. Co-founders Luis Diaz, MD, and Victor Velculescu, MD, PhD, are internationally recognized leaders in cancer genomics who have extensive experience in the practical application of advanced genomic technologies to research, drug development and clinical practice. PGDx’s CLIA-certified facility provides personalized cancer genome analyses to patients and their physicians. For more information, visit www.personalgenome.com.

About Human Longevity, Inc.
HLI, a privately held company headquartered in San Diego, CA was founded in 2013 by pioneers in the fields of genomics and stem cell therapy. Using advances in genomic sequencing, the human microbiome, proteomics, informatics, computing, and cell therapy technologies, HLI is building the world’s most comprehensive database of human genotypes and phenotypes as a basis for a variety of commercialization opportunities to help solve aging related disease and human biological decline. HLI will be licensing access to its database, and developing new diagnostics and therapeutics as part of their product offerings. For more information please visit www.humanlongevity.com

Contacts

PGDx Corporate:
Antony Newton
Chief Commercial Officer
443-602-8833
anewton@personalgenome.com

PGDx Media:
BLL Partners, LLC
Barbara Lindheim
212-584-2276
blindheim@bllbiopartners.com

Human Longevity, Inc. Media:
Heather Kowalski
858-361-0466
hkowalski@humanlongevity.com