Personal Genome Diagnostics Names Industry Veteran Douglas Ward as Chief Executive Officer

BALTIMORE, May 9, 2016 /PRNewswire/ -- Personal Genome Diagnostics Inc. (PGDx), a provider of advanced cancer genome testing products and services, today announced that Douglas Ward has joined the company as Chief Executive Officer and a member of the board of directors. Mr. Ward brings the company more than 25 years of broad management experience in the diagnostics industry. He joins from Roche, where he most recently was Vice President Companion Diagnostics for Ventana Medical Systems, Inc. 

PGDx founders Luis Diaz, MD, and Victor Velculescu, MD, PhD, commented, "Our outstanding team has helped make PGDx an emerging leader in the rapidly developing market for cancer genome testing, providing state of the art services to researchers, drug developers, molecular testing labs and physicians and patients. We are delighted that Doug Ward has joined as our new CEO to lead the company to its next stage of growth. Doug has extensive leadership experience at top-tier molecular diagnostics and testing innovators. His creative approach is exemplified by the novel collaborative companion diagnostics strategy he championed at Ventana, which enabled the unit to achieve market leadership in its sector. Our dynamic field requires an accomplished and innovative leader like Doug. We welcome him to PGDx and look forward to working closely with him going forward."

As a member of the Ventana Leadership Team, Mr. Ward was responsible for Companion Diagnostics strategy, marketing, portfolio development and the operations of its CLIA and CAP-accredited laboratory. He oversaw creation and implementation of a novel pharmaceutical partnering co-development business strategy that helped the company achieve a market leading position in tissue based companion diagnostics. Prior to joining Roche, Mr. Ward served as President and General Manager, Americas, for Commercial Operations for GE Healthcare's Life Sciences business. Previously, he held positions of increasing responsibility at Bayer Healthcare, including Country Head, UK and Ireland, and Vice President of Marketing and Scientific Affairs for Bayer Molecular Diagnostics. Earlier in his career, Mr. Ward served in sales and marketing management positions at Chiron Diagnostics and Ciba Corning Diagnostics. 

Mr. Ward commented, "These are exciting times, as rapid advances in genomic technology and our knowledge of the molecular underpinnings of disease and health are starting to deliver on their promise of more effective treatments. PGDx has been a scientific leader in cancer genome testing since its founding by world class experts at Johns Hopkins, and I look forward to working with the exceptional team Victor and Luis have assembled to make our advanced products and services widely accessible to the diverse customer audiences we serve."

PGDx is the only company offering a complete range of cancer genome analysis tools, including exome and targeted approaches for tissue specimens, targeted approaches for plasma samples and a variety of custom tissue and plasma-based options designed to address the specific research needs of cancer researchers and drug developers. It was established in 2010 by researchers from Johns Hopkins University who are pioneers in cancer genome sequencing and liquid biopsy technologies. Under the leadership of founders Drs. Luis Diaz and Victor Velculescu, the company has achieved consistent growth by successfully commercializing novel clinical and investigational products and services for researchers, drug developers, molecular testing laboratories and physicians and patients. PGDx's service offerings for researchers and testing labs are complemented by the clinical services it provides through its CLIA-certified laboratory. 

About Personal Genome Diagnostics
Personal Genome Diagnostics (PGDx) advances the frontiers of cancer medicine through innovative genomic technologies for oncology researchers, drug developers, clinicians and patients. The expert team at PGDx draws on a deep understanding of cancer biology, extensive experience in cancer genomics and clinical oncology, and the company's distinctive technologies.  These novel technologies precisely identify and characterize unique genomic alterations in tumors. PGDx is working toward broad patient access to its genomic approaches, through a CLIA-certified facility providing comprehensive genomic services, as well as a technology transfer solution enabling other molecular laboratories to easily internalize testing. For additional information, visit www.personalgenome.com.

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SOURCE Personal Genome Diagnostics Inc.

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