- Collaboration with India’s premier professional oncology organization, the Indian Cooperative Oncology Network (ICON)
- Goal to bring CGI’s global expertise in clinical diagnostic assay development and as a drug development partner to optimize clinical outcomes for cancer patients; Aim to develop educational and collaborative clinical research activities for precision oncology
- ICON and CGI will study and analyze benefits and trends of targeted therapies delivered in combination with innovative genomics
- CGI and ICON’s complementary strengths will be leveraged to train Indian oncologists, share best practices, and bring state of the art technology to India’s oncologists and their patients
- CGI’s India lab, CG India, currently serving the life sciences genomic research community and a hub for CGI bioinformatics, will provide comprehensive scientific capacity, resources and new clinical diagnostic tests to oncologists in India
RUTHERFORD, N.J., Nov. 29, 2017 (GLOBE NEWSWIRE) -- Cancer Genetics, Inc. (Nasdaq:CGIX), a leader in enabling precision medicine for oncology through molecular markers and diagnostics, today announced that it has partnered with the Indian Cooperative Oncology Network (ICON), the premier professional oncology organization in India with a mission to optimize clinical outcomes for cancer patients. The partnership will focus on jointly developing educational and collaborative oncology clinical research activities in India to drive use of advanced technology in clinical testing and trials.
ICON is dedicated to disseminating knowledge promoting the development of oncology as a subspecialty in India. Its aim is to foster and encourage clinical research that helps develop better approaches to cancer prevention and management. To do so, ICON participates in clinical research and generates high quality data that can inform regulatory and statutory bodies.
Importantly, ICON is strategically positioned in India to meaningfully assess new developments in precision oncology and its impact on the community of oncologists and patients in India. In collaboration with CGI, ICON can further study and analyze benefits and trends of targeted therapies delivered in combination with better genomic understanding of tumors. The goal is that this applied knowledge will eventually result in new recommendations for optimal use of molecular assays in India.
“We are proud to enter this collaboration in a country with one of the fastest increasing rates of cancer in the world. An estimated 10 million people live with the disease and one million people are diagnosed each year. There is a severe shortage of properly trained physicians, with only 2,000 specialized oncologists to treat the vast number of patients. This discrepancy, along with the country’s growing economy, population, and demand for better medicines, encourages partnerships with Western companies to improve patient care in India; thereby opening up a huge market with high unmet medical need. With extensive experience in diagnostic assays and services, various biopharma partnerships and a comprehensive test menu, CGI offers valuable resources to the Indian oncology community to optimize the care and outcomes of Indian cancer patients. We look forward to partnering with ICON to contribute to its mission, establish valuable relationships with Indian oncologist thought leaders, and drive forward the use of novel technologies enabling precision medicine for improved outcomes,” commented CGI President and CEO Panna Sharma.
“The most important advancement in improved management of cancers is our ability to precisely understand the mechanism of the cancer cell. This is based on molecular testing and allows us to plan individualized therapy precisely to target and destroy cancer cells. India’s oncologists, and therefore their patients, will gain immensely from the CGI partnership for access to state of the art diagnostic approaches. ICON’s nationwide reach across 70 cities and 540 members will make this the biggest network in international collaboration,” added Purvish Parikh, MD, Executive Director of ICON.
As part of the collaboration educational activities, CGI will sponsor a session titled “Discovery, Diagnosis, and Data: Driving Innovation in Oncology” at ICON’s 38th annual meeting, to be held in March 2018 at Kochi, India. The session will include presentations by CGI’s medical and scientific team as well as by local oncologists, covering novel technologies and methods in oncology, including liquid biopsies. The annual meeting is one of the signature activities of ICON and is attended by several hundred oncologists in India.
Also at the ICON annual meeting, CGI will host a panel discussion focused on understanding the impact and needs of next generation sequencing (NGS) and precision oncology in the patient community in India. The panel will discuss how the employment of novel therapies guided by NGS technologies can accelerate the adoption of precision medicine and improve patient outcomes, while lowering costs. It will also explain how oncologists can contribute to data collection efforts that may eventually be able to augment the oncologist's decision-making by continuously matching patient data with emerging therapies.
ABOUT CANCER GENETICS
Cancer Genetics Inc. is a leader in enabling precision medicine in oncology from bench to bedside through the use of oncology biomarkers and molecular testing. CGI is developing a global footprint with locations in the US, India and China. We have established strong clinical research collaborations with major cancer centers such as Memorial Sloan Kettering, The Cleveland Clinic, Mayo Clinic, Keck School of Medicine at USC and the National Cancer Institute.
The Company offers a comprehensive range of laboratory services that provide critical genomic and biomarker information. Its state-of-the-art reference labs are CLIA-certified and CAP-accredited in the US and have licensure from several states including New York State.
For more information, please visit or follow CGI at:
Internet: www.cancergenetics.com
Twitter: @Cancer_Genetics
Facebook: www.facebook.com/CancerGenetics
Forward-Looking Statements:
This press release contains forward-looking statements within the meaning of the Private Securities Litigation Reform Act of 1995. All statements pertaining to Cancer Genetics Inc.’s expectations regarding the completion, timing, pricing and size of the offering described in this press release constitute forward-looking statements.
Any statements that are not historical fact (including, but not limited to, statements that contain words such as “will,” “believes,” “plans,” “anticipates,” “expects,” “estimates”) should also be considered to be forward-looking statements. Forward-looking statements involve risks and uncertainties, including, without limitation, risks inherent in the development and/or commercialization of potential products, risks of cancellation of customer contracts or discontinuance of trials, risks that anticipated benefits from acquisitions will not be realized, uncertainty in the results of clinical trials or regulatory approvals, need and ability to obtain future capital, maintenance of intellectual property rights and other risks discussed in the Cancer Genetics, Inc. Form 10-K for the year ended December 31, 2015 and the Form 10-Q for the Quarter ended June 30, 2017 along with other filings with the Securities and Exchange Commission. These forward-looking statements speak only as of the date hereof. Cancer Genetics, Inc. disclaims any obligation to update these forward-looking statements.
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