NanoString Technologies Unveils New nCounter Vantage™ Assays to Power Cancer Research With 3D Biology™


nCounter Vantage Products Enable Simultaneous Analysis of DNA, RNA, and Protein to Expand Capabilities In Cancer Research, Including Immuno-Oncology

Multiple New Products to be Featured at the American Association for Cancer Research (AACR) 2016 Annual Meeting in New Orleans

SEATTLE, April 14, 2016 (GLOBE NEWSWIRE) -- NanoString Technologies, Inc. (NASDAQ:NSTG), a provider of life science tools for translational research and molecular diagnostic products, today announced the introduction of nCounter Vantage™, a portfolio of assays that power 3D Biology™ experiments in cancer research, including immuno-oncology. The nCounter Vantage portfolio provides a deeper view of cancer and immune biology by enabling multiplexed, digital analysis of DNA, RNA and protein simultaneously in a single experiment. Designed for flexibility, nCounter Vantage products can be mixed and matched, creating many new ways for cancer researchers to apply 3D Biology technology.

“The nCounter Vantage portfolio will enable researchers to extract much more information from each patient sample to better understand a particular tumor at the genomic and proteomic level as well as its interaction with the immune system,” said Dr. Jerome Galon, Research Director of INSERM. “This may lead to the identification of insightful new biomarkers and signatures that could become diagnostics with important clinical utility.”

NanoString plans to unveil multiple new nCounter Vantage products at the American Association for Cancer Research (AACR) Annual Meeting, to be held in New Orleans, from April 16 through April 20, 2016.  These include:

  • For RNA, two new panels for the detection of fusion genes in lung cancer and leukemia samples
  • For proteins, two new panels covering solid tumor biology and immune-cell signaling
  • For DNA, the first of three new panels for the detection of single nucleotide variations

The company will also showcase a new version of its nSolver data analysis software, which will support 3D Biology experiments with new data merging capabilities for combining and comparing multiple panels, analyte types, and custom CodeSets in a single view.

“Because of the complexity of the immune response and tumor biology, it is likely that the next generation of biomarkers in immuno-oncology will need to integrate measurements of DNA, RNA, and protein,” said Dr. Alessandra Cesano, Chief Medical Officer of NanoString Technologies. “Using Vantage assays, together with an nCounter instrument, researchers can achieve these multi-analyte measurements simultaneously on a single sample. We believe that this novel capability will pave the way for development of an exciting and more informative new category of clinical diagnostics.”

New nCounter Vantage Products Featured at AACR
The nCounter Vantage Lung Gene Fusion Panel and nCounter Vantage Leukemia Gene Fusion Panel products have been developed for Research Use Only applications, enable highly multiplexed analysis of key disease-driving gene fusions in RNA transcripts, and are commercially available now. The Lung Gene Fusion Panel includes 63 probes targeting fusions involving the ALK, ROS, RET, and NTRK1 genes.  The Leukemia Gene Fusion Panel includes 42 probes targeting gene fusions and other key biomarkers expressed in ALL, AML, and CML.

Two new protein panels are initially being made available under product evaluation programs, and are expected to be commercially launched by the end of this year for use separately or in combination with other Vantage RNA and DNA panels. The first new protein panel will analyze 30 key intracellular proteins involved in immuno-oncology, and will form the nCounter Vantage RNA:Protein Immune Cell Signaling Panel when used in combination with the 770 RNA measurements included in the PanCancer Immune Profiling Panel. The second new protein panel is focused on key cancer pathways, and will form the nCounter Vantage RNA:Protein Solid Tumor Pathways Panel when used in combination with the 770 RNA measurements included in the PanCancer Pathways Panel.

In addition, the first of three new nCounter Vantage DNA panels for the detection of single nucleotide variations will be featured at the AACR meeting. The nCounter Vantage DNA Solid Tumor Panel is designed for highly multiplexed profiling of key cancer driver mutations as well as insertions and deletions (INDELs) from as little as 5 ng of DNA. Several customers are currently involved in a product evaluation program, which will be expanded prior to commercial launch of the panel expected later this year.

At the 2016 AACR Annual Meeting in New Orleans, Louisiana, NanoString will showcase nCounter Vantage capabilities at booth #2412.

About NanoString Technologies, Inc.

NanoString Technologies provides life science tools for translational research and molecular diagnostic products. The company's nCounter® Analysis System has been employed in life sciences research since it was first introduced in 2008 and has been cited in more than 1,000 peer-reviewed publications. The nCounter Analysis System offers a cost-effective way to easily profile the expression of hundreds of genes, proteins, miRNAs, or copy number variations, simultaneously with high sensitivity and precision, facilitating a wide variety of basic research and translational medicine applications, including biomarker discovery and validation. The company's technology is also being used in diagnostics. The Prosigna® Breast Cancer Prognostic Gene Signature Assay together with the nCounter Dx Analysis System is FDA 510(k) cleared for use as a prognostic indicator for distant recurrence of breast cancer. In addition, the company is collaborating with multiple biopharmaceutical companies in the development of companion diagnostic tests for various cancer therapies, helping to realize the promise of precision oncology.

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

Forward-Looking Statements

This news release contains forward-looking statements within the meaning of Section 27A of the Securities Act of 1933 and Section 21E of the Securities Exchange Act of 1934 and the Private Securities Litigation Reform Act of 1995. These forward-looking statements include statements regarding the potential to discover new biomarkers and diagnostic tests using the company’s nCounter Vantage assays and the timing of nCounter Vantage product evaluation programs and commercial launches. Such statements are based on current assumptions that involve risks and uncertainties that could cause actual outcomes and results to differ materially. These risks and uncertainties, many of which are beyond our control, include market acceptance of our products; delays or denials of regulatory approvals or clearances for products or applications; delays or denials of reimbursement for diagnostic products; the impact of competition; the impact of expanded sales, marketing, product development and clinical activities on operating expenses; delays or other unforeseen problems with respect to manufacturing, product development or clinical studies; adverse conditions in the general domestic and global economic markets; 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, nCounter, 3D Biology, nCounter Vantage and Prosigna are registered trademarks or trademarks of NanoString Technologies, Inc. in various jurisdictions.


            

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