MANCHESTER, UNITED KINGDOM -- (Marketwire-May 28th 2013) - Epistem Plc. (LSE: EHP), the UK biotechnology and personalised medicine company, today announced that it has co-authored a poster reporting biomarker data that will be presented at the American Society of Clinical Oncology Annual Meeting, ‘Building Bridges to Conquer Cancer’ in Chicago on 31st May to 4th June 2013. The poster entitled ‘Exploration of a hair follicle gene signature as a potential pharmacodynamic marker for the dual PI3K/mTOR inhibitor VS-5584’ will be presented during the Tumor Biology Poster Session (Abstract # 11064). Dr Gino Miele, Operations Director of Epistem’s Biomarker Division, is the co-author of the poster that reports data being presented on Epistem’s plucked hair biomarker platform. Epistem’s ex vivo plucked hair platform has successfully identified multiple clinical pharmacodynamic biomarkers resulting from pharmacologic inhibition of the PI3K/mTOR signalling pathway, a commonly dysregulated cancer pathway. Plucked scalp hair represents a practical surrogate tissue for monitoring drug effects in patients. The gene signatures identified in this study may be used to provide further mechanism of action information in clinical settings and can be used to monitor pharmacodynamic responses from a non-invasive surrogate tissue obtained from cancer patients. Matthew Walls, Chief Executive Officer of Epistem Ltd. commented: “This data supports our expertise in PI 3-Kinase pathway biomarker panels. Epistem are at the forefront of clinical biomarker research and this data further strengthens our position as the preferred partner of choice for pharmaceutical and biotechnology companies.” For further information on the Company please visit www.epistem.co.uk or contact: US Office - Lydia Meyer-Turkson +1 (0) 781 859 7937 UK Office - Benjamin Reed +44 (0) 7881 660 737 Epistem Plc. info@epistem.co.uk
Original Article: Epistem co-presents biomarker data at the ASCO 2013 Annual Meeting