April 10, 2017 07:00 ET | Source: Cancer Genetics, Inc.

RUTHERFORD, N.J. and SAN DIEGO, April 10, 2017 (GLOBE NEWSWIRE) -- Cancer Genetics, Inc. (Nasdaq:CGIX) (CGI or The Company), a leader in enabling precision medicine for oncology through molecular markers and diagnostics, announced today that it has been chosen by eFFECTOR Therapeutics, Inc., a biopharmaceutical company developing selective translation regulators for the treatment of cancer, to provide clinical biomarker services for eFFECTORs lead product candidate eFT508. The two companies will work together on eFFECTORs strategies to implement studies aiding in biomarker discovery and development, including immuno-oncology biomarkers, allowing further optimization of eFT508 development as a single agent and in drug combinations.

eFT508 is a novel, potent and highly selective oral small molecule inhibitor of MNK1 and 2 (MAP kinase-interacting kinase 1 and 2). MNK1 and MNK2 integrate signals from several oncogenic and immune signaling pathways, including RAS, Toll-like receptors and the T-cell receptor, by phosphorylating eukaryotic initiation factor 4E (eIF4E) and other key effector proteins. Phosphorylation of these RNA-binding proteins by MNK1 and MNK2 selectively regulates the stability and translation of a subset of cellular mRNA that control cell signaling within and between tumor and immune cells, the tumor microenvironment and immune cell function. In preclinical studies, eFT508 has demonstrated activity in multiple tumor models as well as establishment of anti-tumor immune memory.

eFT508 is currently in Phase 1/2 clinical development targeting multiple solid tumors and lymphoma, and has been recently granted orphan drug designation by the U.S. Food and Drug Administration (FDA) for the treatment of diffuse large B-cell lymphoma (DLBCL). eFFECTOR has designed a biomarker strategy to demonstrate target engagement, inform patient selection and validate the immunological mechanism of action of the drug. These biomarkers will allow for the determination of both circulating and tumor infiltrating immune cell types and their activation state in patients before and after treatment with eFT508 across the ongoing clinical program.

Our collaboration with CGI will allow us to measure several important biomarkers that may reflect eFT508s mechanism of action, as well as identify responsive patient populations, said Kevin Webster, Ph.D., Senior Vice President of eFFECTOR Therapeutics. This will be particularly useful for eFT508, which acts both on tumor cell intrinsic signaling and on extrinsic signaling within tumor infiltrating immune cells, leading to induction of anti-tumor immunity in addition to direct anti-tumor activity.

Cancer Genetics is currently supporting over 125 clinical trials and studies globally with 40 focused on immune therapies. Panna Sharma, CEO and President of CGI commented, The ability to partner with innovative therapeutic companies and help with the critical work across critical topics such as biomarker discovery, identification of immune markers, and immunological mechanisms of action of the drug is a testament to the value and depth of our capabilities and portfolio. Our expanding customer base of highly innovative companies, such as eFFECTOR, highlights our value proposition to the biopharma community. We are very motivated by this opportunity and ready to empower eFFECTOR to achieve important clinical milestones through the use of CGIs extensive oncology-focused menu and biomarker development expertise.

About eFFECTOR Therapeutics eFFECTOR Therapeutics is a clinical-stage biopharmaceutical company pioneering the discovery and development of selective translation regulators as a new class of small molecule therapeutics for cancer. The companys investigational compounds are designed to restore translational control to halt underlying disease mechanisms while preserving healthy physiological processes. eFFECTORs most advanced program focuses on the development of eFT508. The company has additional selective translation regulator programs currently in discovery and development. For more information visit http://www.effector.com.

About Cancer Genetics, Inc. Cancer Genetics, Inc. is an emerging leader in enabling precision medicine for oncology through the use of molecular markers and information. CGI is developing a global footprint with locations in the US, India and China. It has 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.

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Forward-Looking Statements: This press release may contain forward-looking statements within the meaning of the Private Securities Litigation Reform Act of 1995. All statements pertaining to future financial and/or operating results, future growth in revenues, margins, research, technology, clinical development and potential opportunities for Cancer Genetics, Inc. tests and services, along with other statements about the future expectations, beliefs, goals, plans, or prospects expressed by management 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 discovery, development and/or commercialization of potential therapies or 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, 2016 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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Cancer Genetics, Inc. is Selected by eFFECTOR Therapeutics to Provide Biomarker Discovery and Development ... - GlobeNewswire (press release)

In Brief More than any other species on earth, octopuses are particularly smartthey can solve puzzles, use tools, and communicate using color. Now scientists are saying they're also capable of editing their RNA. Gene Editing

A team of scientists led by Joshua Rosenthal at the Marine Biological Laboratory and Noa Liscovitch-Braur and Eli Eisenberg at Tel Aviv University have discovered that octopusesand squid are capable of a type of genetic alteration called RNA editing. The process is rare among other species, leading scientists to believe that the cephalopods have evolved to follow a special kind of gene recoding.

Normally, living creatures use the information contained in DNA to make proteins, and RNA is the go-between, simply transmitting the message in the DNA. More than 60 percent of RNA transcripts in squid are recoded by editing, and similar levels of RNA editing were identified in other cephalopod species, including two octopusesand a cuttlefish. This changes the message that gets sent out, which in turn changes the proteins that get produced. In comparison, other species like fruit flies and humans experience recoding events only a fraction of one percent of the time. But exactly how the gene editing mechanics work is a mystery.

When do they turn it on, and under what environmental influences? It could be something as simple as temperature changes or as complicated as experience, a form of memory, says Rosenthal.

The inherent characteristics of this species have prompted scientists to compare cephalopods to aliens, given their camouflage capability, blue blood, and ability to see polarized light. Their ability to manipulate their RNA demonstrates the importance of editing, which demonstrates how their species have possibly been forgoing standard evolution, sacrificing the ability to quickly evolve in order to develop their impressive brainpower.

Technically, an animal could use RNA editing to change the nature of its proteins without completely altering the underlying DNA instructions. This makes the cephalopods ability to do it a very interesting phenomenon, but its unclear as to why the species requires this much RNA editing.Many of the edited proteins were found in the animals brains, which is why scientists think the editing and their brainpower could be linked.

All of this, however, is still a hypothesis. Further research is needed to determine exactly how the editing mechanism works. Researchers hope to discover the role that RNA editing plays in the development of these species, and whether deeper insight into the process could ultimately lead to treatments for diseases like cystic fibrosis.

Read more from the original source:
These Species Can Recode Their Own Genetics - Futurism - Futurism

In a landmark decision from the FDA, genomics firm 23andMes direct-to-consumer genetics test has been approved in 10 conditions.

Originally given FDA marketing authorisation in February 2015 as a personal genetics test for Bloom syndrome, US patients can now bypass their doctors and perform at-home genetic tests using 23andMes Personal Genome Service to determine their risk of developing specific diseases.

However the FDA has approved the tests as a guide to potential risks, and has said they should not be used as a diagnostic tool.

The 10 conditions the Personal Genome Service now has marketing approval in are:

Thetest itself involves analysing DNA taken from a saliva swab. The sample is sent via post to a 23andMe lab which returns results in around six weeks.

Similar tests are already available to patients but only through their doctors. The most notable example is Myriad Genetics myRisk a 28-gene panel for determining predisposition to a number of cancer types. The test raked in $632 million in sales last year for the company.

This is an important moment for people who want to know their genetic health risks and be more proactive about their health, said Anne Wojcicki, 23andMe CEO and co-founder. The FDA has embraced innovation and has empowered individuals by authorising direct access to this information. It is a significant step forward for 23andMe and for the adoption of personal genetics.

The approval contrasts with the FDAs 2013 decision to prevent 23andMe from selling its genetic tests on the basis that inaccurate results could misinform patients.

As a work-around, 23andMe marketed its test as an ancestry kit to determine whether patients were carriers of genetic mutations associated with particular diseases. It did not however offer genetic health reports.

Regardless of its high-profile backing from entitieslike Google Ventures, the jury is still out as to whether genetic tests will in fact be beneficial and not simply overload doctors with patients demanding specific therapies based on their genetic health reports.

Chief medical officer for England, Dame Sally Davies, remains on the fence about the products,as evidenced by her recent interview with the Financial Times:We are going to have to explain to the public that there are cowboys out there giving you data that they dont understand and we wont be able to explain, said Davies. I think theres an element of that with 23andMe, although they do report back quite effectively.

Read more:
FDA approval for 23andMe's direct-to-consumer genetics test - pharmaphorum

The market punished NewLink Genetics (NASDAQ:NLNK) after presenting data on their indoleamine 2,3-dioxygenase (IDO) combination with Keytruda in advanced melanoma. The stock initially lost over 20% of its market value only to recover half of its losses and end the day down 10% after a number of analysts came to the company's defense. This article will explore whether the market overreacted to the data or if the data truly as bad as the market made it out to be.

IDO Inhibitor

IDO is a intracellular enzyme that regulates the immune response by degrading tryptophan to kynurenine. IDO pathway activity allows tumors to hijack the pathway to avoid the immune response.

The IDO pathway has gained a tremendous amount of hype in response to initial data released from Incyte (NASDAQ:INCY) at EMSO in 2016 as well as recently expanded trials in combination with PD-1 inhibitors with both Merck (NYSE:MRK) and Bristol-Myers Squibb (NYSE:BMY) across a variety of tumor types. Immuno-oncology companies are looking to find the right combinations to provide synergistic benefits in areas where currently approved therapies are inadequate. While there is still limited available data, IDO inhibitors appear to be the front-runner to be one the first approved I-O combination with PD-1 across multiple tumor types.

NewLink Genetics

NewLink has wholly owned IDO inhibitor, Indoximod, as well as a partnered IDO inhibitor, GDC-0919, with Genentech/Roche. The company has two distinct strategies to target the IDO pathway. Indoximod acts directly on immune cells to reverse IDO pathway-mediated response. GDC-0919, like Incyte's epacadostat, is an enzymatic inhibitor, which blocks tryptophan metabolism.

NewLink's AACR presentation released data on Indoximod in combination with Keytruda to treat advanced melanoma. The interim data shows 60 patients treated, with 52 (87%) having stage IV melanoma. Importantly, NewLink included patients with difficult to treat Ocular Melanoma. In Merck's Keytruda phase 3 trial for melanoma, patients with ocular melanoma were excluded.

Source: AACR 2017

Across all 60 patients, there was a 52% objective response rate (12% complete response; 42% partial response), 22% stable disease, which resulted in a 73% disease control rate. Removing patients with ocular melanoma the ORR and DCR increase to 59% and 80%, respectively.

Source: AACR 2017

Source: AACR 2017

Good Results, Negative Reaction

Considering Keytruda's Phase 3 trial in advanced melanoma had a 33% ORR, it's clear adding an IDO inhibitor provides tremendous benefit. To understand why the market punished NewLink, we need to examine Incyte's IDO data with Keytruda in melanoma released at EMSO in 2016.

Source: EMSO 2016

Incyte presented a smaller data set comprising only 19 patients with advanced melanoma, none of which had ocular melanoma. Across all 19 patients, there was a 58% ORR (26% CR; 32% PR) and 74% DCR. Removing ocular melanoma patients from NewLink's data and you get strikingly similar data with one exception. Incyte's limited trial saw 26% of patients experience a complete response compared to just 12% in NewLink's trial.

Incyte's safety data presented at ESMO isn't apples to apples because the company included multiple tumor types, but Incyte's combination did include a higher number of grade 3/4 treatment related adverse events with 19% compared to NewLink's 6%. Importantly, no grade 4 or 5 events were reported in NewLink's data. This is an important distinction for the IDO combination, because the Opdivo/Yervoy combo saw a marked increase in adverse treatment related events. In Opdivo/Yervoy phase 3 trial in advanced melanoma the ORR was 59%, but grade 3/4 treatment related adverse events was 58%. This puts the IDO/PD-L1 at an advantage over Opdivo/Yervoy combo due to its comparably clean safety profile.

Balance Sheet

NewLink ended 2016 with $131.5 million in cash. The company expects a quarterly cash burn around $14 million, which would put the 2017 ending cash balance around $75 million. This excludes any possible milestone payments from Genentech, if they are able to advance their IDO partnership, GDC-0919, into Phase 2 during 2017. The bottom line remains NewLink has an acceptable cash balance to fund current studies well into 2018. Having said that, small cap biotechs are notorious for surprising investors by issuing new shares to raise capital. Investors should expect NewLink to raise funds sometime in the next 12-18 months.

Speculative Biotech Risks

As with all small cap biotech companies in the development stage, NewLink remains a high risk/high reward investment and should only be viewed as a speculative investment. While the company is targeting one of the hottest immuno-oncology pathways, there's no guarantee either of NewLink's IDO therapies will prove superior to Incyte's IDO program. A classic example of the risks in biotech is exemplified by NewLink's AACR presentation. The company reported encouraging data that was comparable to data released by Incyte, but the market did not give the company the benefit of the doubt and pushed shares down 20%. Investors who can't stomach volatility should probably look elsewhere.

Conclusion

IDO inhibitors are a huge step forward in combination with PD-L1 and paves the way for additional advancements in checkpoint inhibitors. It's too early to write off NewLink's proprietary IDO inhibitor, Indoximod. The data presented showed encouraging results in a broader patient population than has thus far been available. I believe the market has overreacted to what should be viewed as at the very least comparable data. Incyte may have shown a higher complete response rate, but in a far smaller data set. If it turns out Incyte's IDO enzymatic approach to block tryptophan metabolism is indeed superior to Indoximod mechanism of action, remember NewLink has a partnership with Genentech/Roche (OTCQX:RHHBY) utilizing the exact same approach. IDO inhibitors will remain a focal point for any company pursuing immuno-oncology and NewLink has distinguished itself as a major player with proven results in this area.

I'd recommend NewLink as a speculative buy on any continued weakness below $20/share. Data on IDO/PD-1 combinations should continue to be released throughout 2017 with ASCO in June as a likely event for Merck, Bristol-Myers or Roche to present data in areas outside of melanoma.

Disclosure: I am/we are long NLNK.

I wrote this article myself, and it expresses my own opinions. I am not receiving compensation for it (other than from Seeking Alpha). I have no business relationship with any company whose stock is mentioned in this article.

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NewLink Genetics Unfairly Punished - Seeking Alpha - Seeking Alpha

April 6, 2017 This visual abstract depcits the findings of Liscovitch-Brauer et al., who show behaviorally complex cephalopods use extensive RNA editing to diversify their neural proteome at the cost of limiting genomic sequence flexibility and evolution. Credit: Liscovitch-Brauer et al./Cell 2017

Octopuses, squid, and cuttlefish often do not follow the genetic instructions in their DNA to the letter. Instead, they use enzymes to pluck out specific adenosine RNA bases (some of As, out of the As, Ts, Gs, and Us of RNA) that codes for proteins and replace them with a different base, called Inosine. This processcalled "RNA editing"is rarely used to recode proteins in most animals, but octopuses and their kin edit RNA base pairs in over half of their transcribed genes. When researchers did experiments to quantify and characterize the extent of this RNA editing across cephalopod species, they found evidence that this genetic strategy has profoundly constrained evolution of the cephalopod genome. The study appears in Cell on April 6.

Researchers have found that octopuses use RNA editing to rapidly adapt to temperature changes (DOI: 10.1126/science.1212795) and that the majority of RNA transcripts in squid neurons contain these edits (DOI: 10.7554/eLife.05198). In the new study, researchers hoped to find out how commonplace these edits are, how they evolved along the cephalopod lineage, and how such extraordinary editing capabilities affect the evolution of the cephalopod genome.

Vertebrate cells are capable of RNA editing, but we use it very rarely. Humans have 20,000 genes but only a few dozen conserved RNA editing sites that are likely encoding functional proteins. Squids also have about 20,000 genes but have at least 11,000 active RNA editing sites affecting the proteome, many of which are conserved, according to this study's estimates. "Basically, this is a mechanism to make proteins that are not encoded in the DNA. They are not present in the genomic sequence," says study co-author Eli Eisenberg, a biophysicist at Tel Aviv University in Israel. "With these cephalopods, this is not the exception. This is the rule. The rule is that most of the proteins are being edited."

In fact, RNA editing is so rare that it's not considered part of genetics' "Central Dogma." "Ever since Watson and Crick figured out that genetic information is stored in DNA, we've had this view that all the information is stored in DNA, and it's faithfully copied to another molecule when it's usedthat's RNA, and from there, it's translated into the proteins that do all the work. "And it's generally assumed that that's a pretty faithful process," explains study co-author Joshua Rosenthal, a cephalopod neurobiologist at the Marine Biological Laboratory in Woods Hole, MA. "What the squid RNA is showing is that that's not always the casethat, in fact, organisms have developed a potent means to manipulate information in RNA."

Analysis across different cephalopod species revealed that this pattern held true in two species of octopus, the common cuttlefish, and one species of squid, all of which belong to the "coleoid" subclass within cephalopods, which are-known for their complex hunting and social behaviors. However, when the researchers checked for signs of RNA editing in one of the octopus's more distant relatives, the chambered nautilus, they found much lower levels of RNA editing. RNA-editing levels were also low in the California Sea Hare, a non-cephalopod mollusk that the researchers used for comparison.

Extensive RNA editing turned out to have robust evolutionary consequences. RNA editing enzymes can only happen to base pairs that are surrounded by a large RNA superstructure. If the bases on either side of the editing target mutate, then the organism may lose the ability to edit that target. Avid RNA recoders, like octopuses and squid, cannot afford DNA mutations in their RNA-editable genes, so they've surrendered the benefits of a frequently mutating DNA genome in favor of RNA editing, the researchers found.

Most organisms extensively use splicing, the process of cutting or adding whole sections of RNA transcripts before they leave the nucleus, to diversify their proteomes, but prioritize DNA flexibility over RNA editing. "We usually think of evolution using whatever it can to answer some challengesso why was RNA recoding not used?" says Eisenberg. "Now, we have an example of what happens when we do use RNA editing abundantly. We know there's a price. The price is slowing down genome evolution...Cephalopods probably chose to take this RNA bargain over genome evolution, and maybe vertebrates made the other choicethey preferred genome evolution over editing."

Since many of the most heavily edited RNAs coded for key neural proteins, the researchers wonder whether RNA editing might contribute to the remarkable intelligence of octopuses and their kin. Not only are they smart enough to hunt, octopuses are clever enough to escape from jars, use coconut husks to hide themselves, signal to others by changing their skin color, and learn through observation.

"They're the only taxon out there that approaches vertebrates in terms of behavioral complexity," says Rosenthal. "These behaviorally complex coeloids all have this tremendous RNA editing, particularly in their nervous system, where they're recoding the messenger RNAs that encode for the very things that are important for electrical excitability."

Researchers are working on an octopus animal model to find out whether RNA editing plays a pivotal role in cephalopod behavior. Experiments that deal with the role of RNA editing in behavior will require an octopus that grows well in laboratories and can be genetically manipulated.

"RNA editing is an elegant system to add flexibility to your genetic information," says Rosenthal, "but it's a real challenge to figure out when it's being used and how it's being used."

Explore further: Squid enrich their DNA 'blueprint' through prolific RNA editing

More information: Cell, Liscovitch-Brauer et al.: "Trade-off between Transcriptome Plasticity and Genome Evolution in Cephalopods" http://www.cell.com/cell/fulltext/S0092-8674(17)30344-6 , DOI: 10.1016/j.cell.2017.03.025

Journal reference: Cell

Provided by: Cell Press

One of the surprising discoveries to emerge from the young field of comparative genomics is that drastically different organismshumans, sea urchins, worms, flies are endowed with a more or less common set of genes. ...

The principle of adaptationthe gradual modification of a species' structures and featuresis one of the pillars of evolution. While there exists ample evidence to support the slow, ongoing process that alters the genetic ...

New techniques in molecular biology that enable targeted interventions in the genome are opening up promising new possibilities for research and application. The ethical and legal ramifications of these methods, known as ...

A new study provides insight on the potential role played by RNA (ribonucleic acid) editing in cancer.

Gene editingone of the newest and most promising tools of biotechnologyenables animal breeders to make beneficial genetic changes, without bringing along unwanted genetic changes.

(PhysOrg.com) -- Researchers have discovered that when it comes to the survival of an octopus living in frigid waters, the reasoning is not a difference in the gene DNA but rather a difference in the RNA editing.

Researchers from the CNRS have discovered that mandrills use their sense of smell to avoid contamination by intestinal protozoans through contact with infected members of their group. Their work, published in Science Advances, ...

Birds show an amazing diversity in plumage colour and patterning. But what are the genetic mechanisms creating such patterns? In a new study published today in PLOS Genetics, Swedish and French researchers report that two ...

Walking through a grassy field or forest take a moment to consider what lies beneath the surface. A web of plant roots interacts symbiotically with arbuscular mycorrhizal (AM) fungi that extend their hyphae from the root ...

A new study of Peruvian frogs living at a wide variety of elevationsfrom the Amazon floodplain to high Andes peakslends support to the idea that lowland amphibians are at higher risk from future climate warming.

Humans are able to interpret the behaviour of others by attributing mental states to them (and to themselves). By adopting the perspectives of other persons, they can assume their emotions, needs and intentions and react ...

(Phys.org)A pair of biology professors, one with the University of Illinois, the other with Macquarie University in Australia has proposed in a Perspective piece in the journal Science that the traits we see as instinctual ...

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Curetis Starts Subsidiary Ares Genetics to Advance Genetic Antibiotic Resistance Testing

- Successful completion of GEAR asset and know how transfer from Siemens to Curetis

Amsterdam, the Netherlands, and Holzgerlingen, Germany, April 6, 2017 -- Curetis N.V. (the "Company" and, together with Curetis GmbH, "Curetis"), a developer of next-level molecular diagnostic solutions, today announced that the Company has established Ares Genetics GmbH, a wholly owned subsidiary of Curetis GmbH. Ares Genetics builds on GEAR GEnetic Antibiotic Resistance and Susceptibility Database and associated assets recently acquired for Siemens. The Company will use GEAR to investigate the genetic foundations of antibiotic resistance and develop and subsequently commercialize novel approaches to improve the rapid detection of antibiotic resistance in patients with microbial infections as well as tools to accelerate antibiotic research. Ares Genetics has been established in Vienna, Austria, in close proximity to the Vienna Biocenter VBC and is headed by Dr. Andreas Posch, who has joined Curetis in March from Siemens as Director GEAR & Bio-IT and one of the Managing Directors of Ares Genetics. Dr. Posch headed the bioinformatics activities at Siemens Healthcare and was responsible for GEAR prior to the asset transfer to Curetis. In addition to Dr. Posch, Curetis` CCO Dr. Achim Plum will act as a further Managing Director of Ares Genetics.

GEAR contains the entire DNA sequences of more than 11,000 bacterial strains as well as related sensitivity data for 21 antibiotics. The strains were isolated from patient samples at over 200 sites across the world over the last three decades. It is the most comprehensive set of genotype-phenotype combinations for antibiotic resistance today and builds on 30 Terabytes of Next Generation Sequencing (NGS) and drug susceptibility raw data. It allows to assemble and annotate bacterial genomes from NGS raw data, identify genetic variations in those genomes and correlate them with the response of the respective bacterial strain to antibiotics. GEAR was developed and compiled by Siemens in collaboration with two academic partners, the Institute of Clinical Molecular Biology (IKMB) at Kiel University and the Clinical Bioinformatics Group of Saarland University headed by Prof. Dr. Andreas Keller who will continue working with Curetis as a key academic partner to further develop GEAR and investigate the genetics of antibiotic resistance.

Via its subsidiary Ares Genetics, Curetis will use GEAR as a biomarker engine to rapidly identify potential novel biomarkers, biomarker combinations, and algorithms predicting antibiotic resistance, as well as potential novel targets for antimicrobial drugs. In the future, GEAR may also pave the way towards fully genetic antibiograms and provide a reference for NGS-based clinical diagnostics.

"We are planning to leverage GEAR as a source for novel genetic markers to further improve the accuracy of rapid genetic tests for antibiotic resistance in life-threatening infections," said Dr. Achim Plum, CCO of Curetis and the second Managing Director at Ares Genetics. "GEAR is a perfect fit for Curetis and will allow us to stay on top of the development of novel resistances."

"GEAR will expand Curetis` content leadership with novel antibiotic resistance markers and form the basis for additional business, including clinical decision support, pharma research or next-generation sequencing interpretation services," said Dr. Andreas Posch, Managing Director at Ares Genetics. "We will pursue a partnership-based model for future R&D and commercialization. Our goal is to advance GEAR as a collaborative research platform for academic and translational research, public health, and industry partners. This will establish GEAR as the enabling technology platform for a broad and effective alliance against antibiotic resistances."

To this end, the newly founded company is currently putting together a strong core team of bioinformatics expertise and life science project management to lead and coordinate all GEAR related R&D within the Curetis Group as well as collaborative projects with partners in industry and academia.

To demonstrate the potential of GEAR in our understanding of the genetics of resistance and to attract further partners in the clinical and scientific communities, Curetis together with its leading academic partners from the Clinical Bioinformatics Group of Saarland University is pursuing a comprehensive publication strategy to share numerous aspects of the data set.

Read More

"Together with Prof. Keller and our partners at Saarland University, we have already published a first paper on the accuracy of species identification using NGS data and further publications on genetic factors of resistances are in the pipeline. Following the publications, we also intend to make certain aspects of the GEAR database publicly available to stimulate our engagement with the relevant academic communities", commented Dr. Posch.

###

About Curetis Founded in 2007, Curetis is a molecular diagnostics company, which focuses on the development and commercialization of reliable, fast and cost-effective products for diagnosing severe infectious diseases. The diagnostic solutions of Curetis enable rapid multi-parameter pathogen and antibiotic resistance marker detection in only a few hours, a process that today can take up to days or even weeks with other techniques.

To date, Curetis has raised EUR 44.3 million in an IPO on Euronext Amsterdam and Euronext Brussels and private equity funds of over EUR 63.5 million. Furthermore, Curetis has entered into a debt financing facility with EIB for up to EUR 25 million. The company is based in Holzgerlingen near Stuttgart, Germany. Curetis collaborates with Heraeus Medical, pharmaceutical companies, and has entered into several international distribution agreements covering many countries across Europe, the Middle East and Asia.

In 2017, Curetis established Ares Genetics GmbH, a wholly-owned subsidiary of Curetis GmbH in Vienna, Austria. Ares Genetics is dedicated to maximize the R&D and related scientific and business opportunities of the GEAR assets acquired in 2016 for the entire Curetis Group.

For further information, please visit http://www.curetis.com

Legal Disclaimer This document constitutes neither an offer to buy nor to subscribe securities and neither this document nor any part of it should form the basis of any investment decision in Curetis.

The information contained in this press release has been carefully prepared. However, Curetis bears and assumes no liability of whatever kind for the correctness and completeness of the information provided herein. Curetis does not assume an obligation of whatever kind to update or correct information contained in this press release whether as a result of new information, future events or for other reasons.

This press release includes statements that are, or may be deemed to be, "forward-looking statements". These forward-looking statements can be identified by the use of forward-looking terminology, including the terms "believes", "estimates", "anticipates", "expects", "intends", "may", "will", or "should", and include statements Curetis makes concerning the intended results of its strategy. By their nature, forward-looking statements involve risks and uncertainties and readers are cautioned that any such forward-looking statements are not guarantees of future performance. Curetis` actual results may differ materially from those predicted by the forward-looking statements. Curetis undertakes no obligation to publicly update or revise forward-looking statements, except as may be required by law.

Contact details

Curetis Max-Eyth-Str. 42 71088 Holzgerlingen, Germany Tel. +49 7031 49195-10 pr@curetis.com or ir@curetis.com http://www.curetis.com - http://www.unyvero.com

International Media & Investor Inquiries akampion Dr. Ludger Wess / Ines-Regina Buth Managing Partners info(@)akampion.com Tel. +49 40 88 16 59 64 Tel. +49 30 23 63 27 68

U.S. Media & Investor Inquiries The Ruth Group Lee Roth lroth@theruthgroup.com Tel. +1 646 536 7012

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This announcement is distributed by NASDAQ OMX Corporate Solutions on behalf of NASDAQ OMX Corporate Solutions clients.

The issuer of this announcement warrants that they are solely responsible for the content, accuracy and originality of the information contained therein. Source: Curetis via GlobeNewswire HUG#2094192

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Curetis Starts Subsidiary Ares Genetics to Advance Genetic Antibiotic Resistance Testing - Yahoo Finance

April 6 Myriad Genetics Inc:

* Myriad Genetics and Beigene sign agreement to develop companion diagnostics for use with Beigene's novel parp inhibitor, BGB-290

* Myriad Genetics Inc - specific terms of deal were not disclosed.

* Myriad Genetics-under deal Beigene to use co's mychoice HRD, bracanalysis CDX companion diagnostic tests to support clinical development of BGB-290 Source text for Eikon: Further company coverage:

* Says it buys 50 percent stake in Barrick Gold's Veladero gold mine in Argentina for $960 million

* Cardiome's partner steadymed announces successful completion of trevyent clinical validation study

* Ant Financial Services Group says issued letter to Moneygram Community as it relates to Ant Financial's agreement to merge with Moneygram

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BRIEF-Myriad Genetics, Beigene sign agreement - Reuters

Wednesday was an up-and-down day for the stock market, but major market benchmarks ended up on the short end of the stick and finished with losses of 0.2% to 0.5%. Throughout much of the day, investors seemed to be pleased with continuing signs of growth in the U.S. economy, pointing to the likelihood that a recession is still far away and that the bull market in stocks could continue indefinitely. Yet later in the afternoon, the release of the latest minutes from the Federal Open Market Committee meeting set a different tone. In addition, some stocks posted particularly poor showings, and NewLink Genetics (NASDAQ: NLNK), Harmonic (NASDAQ: HLIT), and Innophos Holdings (NASDAQ: IPHS) were among the worst performers on the day. Below, we'll look more closely at these stocks to tell you why they did so poorly.

Shares of NewLink Genetics dropped 14% after the biopharmaceutical company released interim results from its phase 2 study of experimental melanoma treatment indoximod. NewLink said that objective response rates came in between 50% and 60% in the study of 60 patients, with disease control rates of 70% to 80%. Yet although Chief Medical Officer Nicholas Vehanian said that the data "further underscore the potential for indoximod in combination with other agents," characterizing the rates as "highly encouraging," investors seemed unimpressed and concerned that failing to produce even stronger performance might leave NewLink vulnerable to competition. With a long road ahead of it, NewLink will inevitably have ups and downs with future study results as the trials progress.

Harmonic stock declined 8% despite the company having showcased new technology at an industry conference. The video delivery infrastructure specialist offered new software-based solutions that it believes could transform the future of media processing, allowing users to take full advantage of changes in media environments. In particular, Harmonic's over-the-top and cloud-based solutions will give customers the ability to release broadcast, live, and on-demand video offerings quickly and with high quality and low cost. Yet investors didn't appear convinced that the conference showcase would result in a faster road to success for Harmonic, whose stock still trades at a third less than what it did in early 2015.

Finally, shares of Innophos Holdings fell 8%. The specialty-ingredient specialist released its "Vision 2022" strategic plan today, which includes a five-year growth trajectory that it hopes to achieve through several key initiatives. In particular, Innophos believes it needs to strengthen its core business in its phosphate-based food, health, and industrial products while growing through acquisition. At the same time, strategic partnerships with customers, suppliers, and marketing and technology partners could help bolster Innophos' business, and the company expects to keep cutting costs to boost efficiency. Yet the company wasn't able to improve its guidance for 2017, which includes a 4% drop in expected sales and flat earnings from 2016 levels. Until these efforts bear fruit, Innophos could see continuing pressure to perform.

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Why NewLink Genetics, Harmonic, and Innophos Holdings Slumped ... - Madison.com

Market Summary Follow

NewLink Genetics Corporation is a A biopharmaceutical company

NLNK - Market Data & News

NLNK - Stock Valuation Report

NewLink Genetics Corporation (NLNK) had a rough trading day for Wednesday April 05 as shares tumbled 14%, or a loss of $-2.91 per share, to close at $17.88. After opening the day at $20.79, shares of NewLink Genetics Corporation traded as high as $20.79 and as low as $17.84. Volume was 2.26 million shares over 14,772 trades, against an average daily volume of 371,077 shares and a total float of 29.22 million.

As a result of the decline, NewLink Genetics Corporation now has a market cap of $522.44 million. In the last year, shares of NewLink Genetics Corporation have traded between a range of $25.17 and $9.23, and its 50-day SMA is currently $17.33 and 200-day SMA is $13.09.

For a complete fundamental analysis of NewLink Genetics Corporation, check out Equities.coms Stock Valuation Analysis report for NLNK.

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NewLink Genetics Corp is a biopharmaceutical company. The Company is focused on discovering, developing and commercializing immunotherapeutic products to improve treatment options for patients with cancer.

NewLink Genetics Corporation is based out of Ames, IA and has some 122 employees. Its CEO is Charles J. Link.

NewLink Genetics Corporation is a component of the Russell 2000. The Russell 2000 is one of the leading indices tracking small-cap companies in the United States. It's maintained by Russell Investments, an industry leader in creating and maintaining indices, and consists of the smallest 2000 stocks from the broader Russell 3000 index.

Russell's indices differ from traditional indices like the Dow Jones Industrial Average (DJIA) or S&P 500, whose members are selected by committee, because they base membership entirely on an objective, rules based methodology. The 3,000 largest companies by market cap make up the Russell 3000, with the 2,000 smaller companies making up the Russell 2000. It's a simple approach that gives a broad, unbiased look at the small-cap market as a whole.

To get more information on NewLink Genetics Corporation and to follow the companys latest updates, you can visit the companys profile page here: NLNKs Profile. For more news on the financial markets and emerging growth companies, be sure to visit Equities.coms Newsdesk. Also, dont forget to sign-up for our daily email newsletter to ensure you dont miss out on any of our best stories.

All data provided by QuoteMedia and was accurate as of 4:30PM ET.

DISCLOSURE: The views and opinions expressed in this article are those of the authors, and do not represent the views of equities.com. Readers should not consider statements made by the author as formal recommendations and should consult their financial advisor before making any investment decisions. To read our full disclosure, please go to: http://www.equities.com/disclaimer

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NewLink Genetics Corporation (NLNK) Plunges 14% on April 05 - Equities.com

MINSK, 4 April (BelTA) Belarus and Russia have plans to establish joint breeding and genetics centers, Belarusian Agriculture and Food Minister Leonid Zayats told reporters on 4 April, BelTA has learned.

The minister said that the meeting held in Saint Petersburg on 3 April discussed matters related to the establishment of joint breeding and genetics centers with a view to reducing the import of pedigree stock. The countries of Europe are facing serious animal health problems, including avian flu, African swine fever, bluetongue disease and other diseases. This is unsafe for our country, so we should preserve what we have achieved in livestock farming, he emphasized.

The breeding and genetics centers will likely be set up at the research agencies of the two countries. Plans have been made to establish centers for dairy cattle breeding, pig breeding, and broiler farming. We should preserve our potential in genetics and animal breeding, Leonid Zayats said.

The minister noted that the matter will be discussed at the session of the Supreme State Council of the Union State to be held in Russia in the near future.

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Belarus, Russia plan to set up joint breeding and genetics centers - Belarus News (BelTA)