CARLSBAD, Calif., Nov. 5, 2015 (GLOBE NEWSWIRE) -- Signal Genetics, Inc. (NASDAQ:SGNL) (Signal), a commercial stage, molecular genetics diagnostic company focused on providing innovative diagnostic services that help physicians make better-informed decisions concerning the care of their patients suffering from cancer, today announced that a peer-reviewed paper highlighting the clinical utility of MyPRS® in the everyday management of patients with multiple myeloma, was published on-line in the journal Leukemia on November 3, 2015.
In the paper, titled "The Clinical Value of Molecular Subtyping Multiple Myeloma Using Gene Expression Profiling", authored by N. Weinhold et al., researchers examined a dataset of 1,217 multiple myeloma patients treated at the Myeloma Institute at the University of Arkansas for Medical Sciences (UAMS) to gauge the impact of novel therapies on molecular and risk subgroups. As part of the research, Signal's MyPRS® genetic test (also known as the GEP70 test) was used to classify patients into risk categories and molecular subtypes. The outcome of this research demonstrates the importance of classifying the risk category and subtype of a patient's cancer in order to appropriately manage the course of treatment. This is especially true for "high risk" patients that have a very aggressive form of multiple myeloma, and therefore may require an unconventional therapeutic approach.
Samuel D. Riccitelli, President and CEO of Signal, commented, "Having this peer-reviewed paper accepted by Leukemia is a very important and exciting event for Signal and our MyPRS® genetic test. Leukemia is one of the most respected medical journals in its field, and acceptance of this paper is clear validation of the value of MyPRS® in the management of patients with multiple myeloma."
Mr. Riccitelli, continued, "This research clearly shows that patients with certain subtypes of multiple myeloma will respond differently to specific therapies. Further, the data outlined in this paper demonstrate the need to classify the risk category along with the subtype in order to fully understand which treatment option is optimal for the patient. Knowing what treatments will or will not work for a patient is absolutely critical when dealing with this potentially fatal disease, and our assay has proven able to classify both risk category and subtype of multiple myeloma to aid physicians as they seek to achieve the best outcome for their patients. While MyPRS® is already used in a significant number of cases at leading academic centers in the U.S., this paper supports the advantage for our genetic test to be used as a standard of care in the management of multiple myeloma patients."
Gareth Morgan, M.D., FRCP, FRCPath, Ph.D., Professor of Medicine and Director of the Myeloma Institute at UAMS, commented. "Through significant time and research, the treatment paradigm for multiple myeloma continues to evolve. We actually gain a better appreciation for the severity of this cancer through a deeper understanding of its complexity. This complexity has pushed researchers to develop multiple therapeutic options to treat the disease, and with several classes of therapies available - and many more in clinical trials - the ability to classify patients by both risk level and subtype has emerged as a critical input to determine choice of therapy. The data now published in Leukemia suggest that MyPRS® may be the right tool to inform treatment decisions and achieve better outcomes for patients living with multiple myeloma, one of the most challenging cancers in the field."
Signal Genetics has developed its MyPRS® prognostic test to enhance the treatment of patients suffering from multiple myeloma. This proprietary assay enables physicians to accurately stratify patients into high and low-risk categories and molecular disease subtypes, in order to ensure they are receiving the most appropriate level of care to prevent over treating or under treating the disease.
About Signal Genetics, Inc.
Signal Genetics, Inc., headquartered in Carlsbad, California, is a commercial stage, molecular diagnostic company focused on providing innovative diagnostic services that help physicians make better-informed decisions concerning the care of their patients suffering from cancer. Signal's mission is to develop, validate and deliver innovative diagnostic services that enable better patient-care decisions. Signal was founded in January 2010 and became the exclusive licensee in its licensed field to the renowned research on multiple myeloma performed at the University of Arkansas for Medical Sciences, in April 2010.
About University of Arkansas for Medical Sciences
UAMS is Arkansas' only comprehensive academic health center, with colleges of Medicine, Nursing, Pharmacy, Health Professions and Public Health; a graduate school; a hospital; a statewide network of regional centers; and seven institutes: the Winthrop P. Rockefeller Cancer Institute, the Jackson T. Stephens Spine & Neurosciences Institute, the Myeloma Institute for Research and Therapy, the Harvey & Bernice Jones Eye Institute, the Psychiatric Research Institute, the Donald W. Reynolds Institute on Aging and the Translational Research Institute. It is the only adult Level 1 trauma center in the state. UAMS has more than 2,865 students and 785 medical residents. It is the state's largest public employer with more than 10,000 employees, including about 1,000 physicians and other professionals who provide care to patients at UAMS, Arkansas Children's Hospital, the VA Medical Center and UAMS regional centers throughout the state.
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