Personal Genome Diagnostics and MolecularMD Collaborate to Provide Advanced Genomic Testing Services to Cancer Drug Developers

BALTIMORE, Oct. 25, 2013 /PRNewswire/ -- Personal Genome Diagnostics Inc. (PGDx), today announced that it will collaborate with MolecularMD to market a suite of comprehensive personalized medicine services to oncology researchers and drug developers, adding PGDx's expertise in Next-Generation Sequencing (NGS)-based cancer biomarker discovery to MolecularMD's capabilities in the development, validation and global delivery of cancer companion diagnostics. The collaboration is designed to provide a unique specialized service to the pharmaceutical and biotechnology industry, seamlessly spanning the entire spectrum of genomic and clinical trial services used in new drug R&D and clinical development. Under the terms of the agreement, the two companies will co-market each other's services to their pharmaceutical and biotechnology customers.

PGDx provides advanced genome mapping services and analyses to oncology researchers, clinicians and patients. It employs cancer exome analysis, which enables comprehensive, reliable and unbiased genome-wide identification of cancer-related mutations. The company's proprietary methods for genome sequencing and analysis are complemented by its deep expertise in cancer genomics.

MolecularMD provides molecular diagnostics products and services to pharmaceutical and biotechnology drug developers. Its capabilities range from specialty molecular testing services performed in its CLIA-certified and CAP-accredited laboratory to development of companion diagnostics that support new drug registrations. It also provides NGS services for clinical trials, including standard and custom-designed panels that can profile gene alterations relevant to therapeutic response or resistance.

"PGDx focuses on unbiased NGS-based approaches that are most relevant in the early stages of drug discovery and development, which complements MolecularMD's capabilities in the development of companion diagnostics for specific cancer biomarkers. This collaboration will now enable the two companies to provide a complete spectrum of genomic services to drug developers," said Antony Newton, Chief Commercial Officer of PGDx. "We share a mission of applying advances in cancer genomics to accelerate new drug development and achieve improved patient outcomes, and we expect this agreement to benefit our customers and ultimately, cancer patients."

"PGDx has unique capabilities that supplement the growing menu of advanced genomic services MolecularMD provides to oncology drug developers," noted Glenn A. Miller, PhD, Executive Vice President and Chief Technology Officer of MolecularMD. "The combination of our distinctive sets of expertise and common commitment to translating progress in cancer genomics into high quality tools for drug developers and clinicians should make this a valuable collaboration."

The scientific founders of PGDx, Luis Diaz, MD, and Victor Velculescu, MD, PhD, are internationally recognized leaders in cancer genomics at Johns Hopkins University and have extensive experience in the practical application of advanced genomic technologies to drug development and clinical practice. 

About Personal Genome Diagnostics
Personal Genome Diagnostics (PGDx) provides advanced genome-mapping services and analyses to oncology researchers, clinicians and patients. The company was founded in 2010 by international leaders in cancer genetics at Johns Hopkins University. PGDx conducts patient-specific analyses aimed at identifying the unique genomic alterations in tumors and linking them to the underlying biology. PGDx employs cancer exome analysis, which enables comprehensive and reliable genome-wide identification of cancer-related mutations. The company's proprietary methods for genome sequencing and analysis are complemented by its deep expertise in cancer genomics. PGDx's CLIA-certified facility provides personalized cancer genome analyses to patients and their physicians. For more information, visit www.personalgenome.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. Tests 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. For more information, visit http://molecularmd.com/.

SOURCE Personal Genome Diagnostics Inc.

WANT YOUR COMPANY'S NEWS FEATURED ON PRNEWSWIRE.COM?

440k+
Newsrooms &
Influencers

9k+
Digital Media
Outlets

270k+
Journalists
Opted In

GET STARTED