Agendia Launches TargetPrint For Breast Cancer Patients

Agendia, a world leader in molecular cancer diagnostics, announced the launch of TargetPrint(R), a new diagnostic test that allows physicians to quantitatively determine the gene expression levels of the estrogen receptor (ER), progesterone receptor (PR) and Human Epidermal growth factor Receptor 2 (HER2) in breast cancer tumor biopsies. The accurate measurement of these receptors is of paramount importance in planning treatment of breast cancer patients after surgery and assists physicians and patients in making informed treatment decisions. TargetPrint runs on Agendia's new High Density Chip, which received market clearance last month (August 2008) from the U.S. Food and Drug Administration (FDA).

"Currently available targeted therapies, such as hormone treatments, can have a huge impact on the survival and quality of life of a significant number of breast cancer patients," said Bernhard Sixt, Ph.D., president and chief executive officer of Agendia. "TargetPrint will play a key role in defining which patients are most likely to benefit from these treatments."

"The test's results give a precise molecular read-out of prognostic parameters for breast cancer and provide physicians and patients with reliable guidance on the most suitable treatment for each individual patient," said Richard A. Bender, MD, FACP, chief medical officer of Agendia. "In the near future, it is our plan to add information on a wider range of drug targets to TargetPrint and clinically validate these with key customers."

Agendia will present clinical data on TargetPrint at The 2008 Breast Cancer Symposium which is co-sponsored by the American Society of Clinical Oncology (ASCO) and will be held in Washington, DC from September 5-7, 2008. TargetPrint is processed at Agendia's Clinical Laboratory Improvement Amendments (CLIA) certified and the College of American Pathology (CAP) accredited laboratory.

Copyright 2008, Physician Law Weekly via NewsRx.com