Toronto, Canada and Irvine, California, August 21, 2012: Today, the companies announced that the first of OvaGene’s proprietary gene signatures will be implemented on Axela’s Ziplex® platform. The signature will be made available to physicians to assist in personalizing the selection of drugs commonly used to treat recurrent Ovarian Cancer. In the USA, 182,000 women are currently living with a confirmed diagnosis of Ovarian Cancer. Approximately 145,000 of those patients will receive chemotherapy and could potentially benefit from the test.
OvaGene Oncology Inc. has particular expertise within the field of Gynecologic Cancers and through its CLIA Laboratory is focused on developing and commercializing proprietary gene-based signatures and assays to personalize the treatment of Ovarian, Uterine, and Cervical Cancers. Axela’s Ziplex® platform is optimized to perform complex gene and protein expression assays in a distributed testing environment. By partnering with OvaGene for proprietary content, Axela creates an opportunity to make such tests available on a global basis.
Frank J. Kiesner, Chairman of OvaGene, stated “the relationship with Axela has the potential to rapidly yield significant benefits to patients and their physicians. In the USA, over 20 drugs may be used to treat recurrent Ovarian Cancer, each showing a low 12%-15% response rate. When available, OvaGene’s proprietary gene signature will provide physicians an opportunity to improve these response rates by personalizing drug selection. Through this partnership with Axela and with access to their unique platform, we can rapidly offer the highest quality gene signature based testing to Gynecologic Oncologists.”
Michael Treble, Executive Chairman of Axela Inc., commented that “this is another important addition to the Axela’s pipeline of diagnostic content. OvaGene’s unique signature directly complements our other development programs, including the Breast Cancer Risk of Recurrence Assay. Utilizing the Flow-Thru Chip’s® versatility to perform both gene and protein analysis we are well positioned to address the need for automated multiplex testing in a wide range of laboratory environments.”
About OvaGene Oncology Inc.
OvaGene is a molecular diagnostics company located in Irvine, California dedicated to improving cancer care and outcomes for gynecologic cancer patients through the development of novel gene-based assays. Through its CLIA Lab, the company offers a menu of tests including gene-based diagnostic assays to assist physicians in the prognosis of gynecologic cancers as well as therapy selection, including radiation and chemotherapy. In the USA there are approximately 1,000,000 women with confirmed diagnosis of a Gynecologic Cancer: 182,000 cases of ovarian cancer; 587,000 cases of endometrial cancer; and, 250,000 cases of Cervical Cancer. Please visit www.ovagene.com for more information.
About Axela Inc.
Axela's automated platforms for multiplexed nucleic acid and protein analysis are specifically designed to simplify the transition from clinical discovery to diagnostic implementation. The company’s approach enables complex molecular diagnostic tests to be performed in a wide range of laboratory workflows. The current development pipeline encompasses unique applications in oncology and immune status. Axela partners with diagnostic companies to commercialize clinical tests and develops research products for sale through life science distributors. Please visit www.axela.com for more information.
Frank J. Kiesner, J.D.
OvaGene Oncology, Inc.
Founder and CEO
10 Pasteur, Suite 150
Irvine, CA 92618
Ofc: 949.271.8810
Cell: 949.294.3777
[email protected]
Paul Smith
Axela Inc.
Chief Operating Officer
50 Ronson Drive, Suite 105
Toronto, Ontario M9W 1B3
416-978-1625 x302
[email protected]