Session Examines Use of Proteomics and Mass Spec to Improve Biomarker Validation
BOSTON AND BOULDER, Colo.– November 13, 2013 – Biodesix, Inc., a fully integrated molecular diagnostics company dedicated to personalizing medicine, today announced that Vice President of Business Development and Strategic Marketing, Paul Beresford, Ph.D., will present at the 2013 World CDx Summit taking place in Boston, November 12-15, 2013. Dr. Beresford will discuss the benefits of proteomics in diagnostic test discovery and how when paired with MALDI-ToF mass spectrometry (MALDI) and analytical analysis, diagnostic tests can be developed quickly and more precisely to focus on a target clinical question.
The presentation, “A Better Path to Test Discovery and Validation Using Proteomics,” will take place on Wednesday, November 13 at 3:00 p.m. EST. Dr. Beresford will look at how biomarkers and diagnostic tests are traditionally developed and discuss how MALDI mass spectrometry, algorithmic analysis and learning theory can transform that process. He will cite clinical case examples including the path to validation for the company’s serum protein test, VeriStrat®, as well a case study example from GlobeImmune (a biopharmaceutical company focused on developing immunotherapies for cancer and infectious diseases) to demonstrate how Biodesix’ discovery platform has been used to develop tests that successfully identify patients who benefit from certain therapies.
“In industry’s quest to develop novel, targeted therapies and diagnostics, the majority of potential new products stall out in the discovery phase, never reaching the patients who could benefit, “ said Dr. Beresford. “Biodesix is one of the first companies to successfully develop MALDI mass spectrometry into a reproducible, high-throughput platform that discovers unique protein signatures that can identify patients likely to benefit from specific therapies. With this approach, companies are more quickly developing diagnostic tests and no longer need to shift platforms as they move from discovery to development and commercialization.”
The success of Biodesix’ approach is evident in the company’s validated and commercialized serum protein test, VeriStrat, which identifies patients who are likely to have good or poor outcomes after second line treatment for advanced non-small cell lung cancer (NSCLC). Results of the world’s first successful, prospective biomarker-stratified study in lung cancer to test treatment and biomarker interaction confirmed that VeriStrat is both predictive and prognostic of differential treatment outcomes for the two types of therapies used in second-line treatment of advanced NSCLC: chemotherapy or the targeted drug erlotinib (Tarceva®). Biodesix also collaborates with clinical investigators and partners with biotechnology and pharmaceutical companies to develop diagnostics that can determine which patients are most likely to benefit from novel therapies.
For more information about the summit or the location of the presentation, visit www.world-cdx.com.
Biodesix and VeriStrat are registered trademarks of Biodesix, Inc. All other trademarks are property of their respective owners.
About Biodesix
Biodesix is a molecular diagnostics company advancing the development of innovative products for personalizing medicine. The company provides physicians with diagnostic tests for earlier disease detection, more accurate diagnosis, disease monitoring and better therapeutic guidance which may lead to improved patient outcomes. Biodesix discovers, develops and commercializes multivariate protein diagnostics based on their proprietary mass spectrometry based discovery platform. VeriStrat, a multivariate serum protein test, is Biodesix’ first product developed with this technology. The commercially available test provides oncologists with information to help them select between erlotinib and single-agent chemotherapy for advanced lung cancer patients. Tests are processed in Biodesix’ CLIA-certified laboratory and results are reported in less than 72 hours. In addition to developing novel diagnostics independently, the company also partners with biotechnology and pharmaceutical companies to develop companion diagnostics to improve utility of therapeutic agents. For more information on VeriStrat, please visit www.VeriStratSupport.com. For more information about Biodesix, please visit www.Biodesix.com.
Chempetitive Group for Biodesix
Kelly Quigley or Rachel Lear
781-775-3640
Biodesix@Chempetitive.com