Signal Genetics, MD Anderson Partner

Signal Genetics 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, has announced that the Company has entered into an agreement with the University of Texas MD Anderson Cancer Center ("MD Anderson") to further validate the clinical utility of its MyPRS®test which identifies patients at risk of rapid progression from the precursor conditions of smoldering multiple myeloma and MGUS (collectively, asymptomatic monoclonal gammopathies, or AMG) to symptomatic multiple myeloma.  The parties have designed a prospective study enrolling approximately 200 patients, led by multiple MD Anderson investigators, including:

• Elisabet E. Manasanch, M.D., Assistant Professor, Lymphoma/Myeloma;

• Jatin Shah, M.D., Associate Professor, Lymphoma/Myeloma;

• Donna Weber, BS, M.D., Professor, Lymphoma/Myeloma; and

• Robert Orlowski, M.D., PhD, Chair Ad Interim, Lymphoma/Myeloma.

Under the agreement, Signal will perform MyPRS® testing on patient specimens to better inform key patient management decisions, including the risk of progression from the constellation of AMG disorders to symptomatic multiple myeloma.  The parties also plan to collect next generation sequencing (NGS) data to capture additional genetic readouts that could further characterize patients at different points on the clinical continuum.

The parties will begin work this month and patient enrollment has opened. 

Samuel D. Riccitelli, President and CEO of Signal Genetics, commented, "We are extremely excited to partner with MD Anderson in further demonstrating the ability of MyPRS® to identify a patient's risk of rapid progression from asymptomatic to symptomatic multiple myeloma. Stratifying patients into risk categories is a crucial step in determining the proper course of treatment and MyPRS® has the ability to provide physicians with this vital information. We believe this study will provide additional support for the clinical utility of our assay and we look forward to working with MD Anderson as we seek to improve the care of patients suffering from multiple myeloma."