SEATTLE, Jan. 15, 2014 (GLOBE NEWSWIRE) -- NanoString Technologies, Inc. (Nasdaq:NSTG), a provider of life science tools for translational research and molecular diagnostic products, today announced that it has secured an exclusive option from Massachusetts General Hospital to license intellectual property related to a novel approach for multiplexed protein analysis using the company's nCounter Analysis System. The method was recently published in Science Translational Medicine.

The nCounter Analysis System is an automated and easy-to-use platform that utilizes a novel digital barcoding chemistry to deliver high precision multiplexed assays across a number of important research applications including gene expression, copy number variation, and miRNA analysis. In the new publication, researchers from Massachusetts General Hospital demonstrate a novel method that supports nCounter's potential for multiplexed protein analysis. The researchers simultaneously analyzed 90 proteins at single-cell sensitivity, thereby measuring more markers on limited material than by using traditional immunohistochemistry. The researchers also demonstrated the method's ease-of-use, reproducibility, and compatibility with clinical applications, such as the profiling of fine-needle aspirate cancer samples.

"Smarter protein marker selection has the potential to reduce drug development costs, narrow patient cohorts, and improve clinical trial design," said Ralph Weissleder, MD, PhD, Director of the Center for Systems Biology at Massachusetts General Hospital and senior author on the paper. "Through this novel approach, we have demonstrated a promising new way to measure hundreds of cellular proteins with single-cell sensitivity. Our plan is to further develop this method, which we believe could help propel drug trials and biological investigation in research laboratories, academic hospitals, and pharmaceutical companies."

The study conducted by Massachusetts General Hospital demonstrates the translational potential of the new method for monitoring cancer treatment. Proof-of-concept case studies on four patient samples show that broader profiling can improve understanding of potentially useful companion diagnostic biomarkers and help explore how drug dosing corresponds to cellular pharmacodynamics. The authors conclude that this method, as performed on the nCounter Analysis System, could be a valuable tool in identifying pathway responses to molecularly targeted therapeutics, predicting drug response from patient samples, and designing clinical trials.

"We want to congratulate Dr. Weissleder and the Massachusetts General Hospital team on this exciting new study, which further demonstrates the flexibility of the nCounter platform in current and emerging areas of research and provides a compelling case for its advanced capabilities in protein targeting," said Brad Gray, Chief Executive Officer of NanoString Technologies. "We are committed to expanding the range of applications enabled on the nCounter Analysis System and are continually working with our customers and other partners around the world to develop novel solutions for new areas of biological research and discovery."

The study publication, "Cancer Cell Profiling by Barcoding Allows Multiplexed Protein Analysis in Fine-Needle Aspirates," can be found on the Science Translational Medicine website at: http://stm.sciencemag.org/

For a complete description of the applications currently available on the nCounter Analysis System, please visit http://www.nanostring.com/applications.

About NanoString Technologies, Inc.

NanoString Technologies provides life science tools for translational research and molecular diagnostic products. The company's nCounter® Analysis System, which has been employed in basic and translational research since it was first introduced in 2008 and cited in more than 360 peer-reviewed publications, has also now been applied to diagnostic use as the nCounter Dx Analysis System. The company's technology offers a cost-effective way to easily profile the expression of hundreds of genes, miRNAs, or copy number variations, simultaneously with high sensitivity and precision. The company's technology enables a wide variety of basic research and translational medicine applications, including biomarker discovery and validation. The nCounter-based Prosigna™ Breast Cancer Prognostic Gene Signature Assay is the first in vitro diagnostic assay to be marketed through the company's diagnostics business. The nCounter Dx Analysis System is FDA 510(k) cleared for use with the Prosigna Breast Cancer Prognostic Gene Signature Assay. To date, it has not been cleared by the FDA for other indications or for use with other assays.

For more information, please visit www.nanostring.com.

Forward-Looking Statements

This press release contains forward-looking statements within the meaning of the Private Securities Litigation Reform Act of 1995, including statements regarding the potential to use multiplexed protein analysis on the nCounter Analysis System as a tool in monitoring cancer treatment, to predict drug responses from patient samples, to improve the design of clinical trials and reduce the cost of drug development. Forward-looking statements are subject to risks and uncertainties that could cause actual results to differ materially and reported results should not be considered as an indication of future performance. These risks and uncertainties include, but are not limited to: risks associated with keeping pace with rapidly changing technology and customer requirements; risks regarding the company's ability to successfully introduce new products; risks that new market opportunities may not develop as quickly as expected; risks associated with competition in marketing and selling products; risks of increased regulatory requirements; as well as the other risks set forth in the company's filings with the Securities and Exchange Commission. These forward-looking statements speak only as of the date hereof. NanoString Technologies disclaims any obligation to update these forward-looking statements.

The NanoString Technologies logo, NanoString, NanoString Technologies, and nCounter are registered trademarks of NanoString Technologies, Inc.