LOS ANGELES, June 16, 2014 (GLOBE NEWSWIRE) -- Response Genetics, Inc. (Nasdaq:RGDX), a company focused on the development and sale of molecular diagnostic tests that help guide cancer therapy selection, today announced the availability of new testing capabilities to advance cancer immunotherapy clinical development. The Immuno-Oncology assay, which runs on HTG Molecular's Edge System, is designed to measure the RNA expression of 26 commonly investigated immunotherapy related genes enabling screening for response to immunoregulatory pathways. The Iummo-Oncology test will be made available to all of Response Genetics' existing biopharmaceutical partners, and new potential partners, to aid in development of biomarker driven cancer immunotherapy clinical trials.
"As the field of cancer immunotherapy continues to expand with potential immunotherapeutic targets in a broad range of malignancies, we are pleased to add immunotherapy testing to the portfolio of services we offer to our biopharma clients," said Thomas A. Bologna, Chairman and Chief Executive Officer of Response Genetics. "Regulation of the immune system is the key to several therapeutic approaches for cancer treatment. A number of clinical development programs being pioneered by large pharma are focused on signaling pathways like PD-1, PD-L1, OX-40, LAG3 and CTLA4 with the goal of enabling the immune system to attack cancer cells. The new assay covers these pathways as well as numerous other targets."
Mr. Bologna added, "As evidenced at the recent annual meeting of the American Society of Clinical Oncology, the characterization of biomarkers of response to immunotherapeutic agents is focused on the expression levels of the relevant receptors and ligands. Response Genetics was among the first commercial organizations to harness the power of mRNA expression profiling as a means to guide cancer therapy selection. The addition of the Immuno-Oncology assay allows our pharma partners to further leverage our expertise in RNA-based testing to shed light on potential biomarkers that identify patients likely to respond to this new class of therapies."
About Response Genetics, Inc.
Response Genetics, Inc. (the "Company") is a CLIA-certified clinical laboratory focused on the development and sale of molecular diagnostic testing services for cancer. The Company's technologies enable extraction and analysis of genetic information derived from tumor cells stored as formalin-fixed and paraffin-embedded specimens. The Company's principal customers include oncologists and pathologists. In addition to diagnostic testing services, the Company generates revenue from the sale of its proprietary analytical pharmacogenomic testing services of clinical trial specimens to the pharmaceutical industry. The Company's headquarters is located in Los Angeles, California. For more information, please visit www.responsegenetics.com.
Forward-Looking Statement Notice
Except for the historical information contained herein, this press release and the statements of representatives of the Company related thereto contain or may contain, among other things, certain forward-looking statements, within the meaning of the Private Securities Litigation Reform Act of 1995.
Such forward-looking statements involve significant risks and uncertainties. Such statements may include, without limitation, statements with respect to the Company's plans, objectives, projections, expectations and intentions, such as the ability of the Company, to provide clinical testing services to the medical community, to continue to strengthen and expand its sales force, to continue to build its digital pathology initiative, to attract and retain qualified management, to continue to strengthen marketing capabilities, to expand the suite of ResponseDX® products, to continue to provide clinical trial support to pharmaceutical clients, to enter into new collaborations with pharmaceutical clients, to enter into areas of companion diagnostics, to continue to execute on its business strategy and operations, to continue to analyze cancer samples and the potential for using the results of this research to develop diagnostic tests for cancer, the usefulness of genetic information to tailor treatment to patients, and other statements identified by words such as "project," "may," "could," "would," "should," "believe," "expect," "anticipate," "estimate," "intend," "plan" or similar expressions.
These statements are based upon the current beliefs and expectations of the Company's management and are subject to significant risks and uncertainties, including those detailed in the Company's filings with the Securities and Exchange Commission. Actual results, including, without limitation, actual sales results, if any, or the application of funds, may differ from those set forth in the forward-looking statements. These forward-looking statements involve certain risks and uncertainties that are subject to change based on various factors (many of which are beyond the Company's control). The Company undertakes no obligation to publicly update forward-looking statements, whether because of new information, future events or otherwise, except as required by law.