Metamark Genetics, Inc. Partners with Definiens AG on Tissue-Based Cancer Diagnostics
CAMBRIDGE, Mass. and MUNICH, June 30, 2011 /PRNewswire/ -- Metamark Genetics, a privately-held oncology molecular diagnostic company, and Definiens, the leading Health Image Intelligence company, today announced a development and commercialization partnership in which Metamark will combine its proprietary multiplex protein detection platform with image analysis technology developed jointly with Definiens to deliver innovative prognostic and predictive assays for early-stage cancers.
"Definiens is a clear world leader in quantitative digital pathology and in the analysis of biomarkers in tissue image data," said Eric Devroe, Ph.D., Vice President of Business & Strategy Development for Metamark. "We see great synergy in combining Definiens' technology and expertise with Metamark's unique understanding of tumor heterogeneity and insight into the molecular drivers regulating tumor formation and aggression. We believe that this partnership will enable us to co-develop and implement unique and important image analysis tools."
Metamark's quantitative diagnostic approach can identify and account for small regions of molecularly aggressive cancer cells within an otherwise indolent tumor. The company is developing a portfolio of prognostic and predictive assays with the ability to address the "heterogeneous" nature of tumors not only between one patient and the next, but also within an individual patient's tumor.
Definiens has made ground-breaking achievements in the field of biomarker development based on its highly robust and scalable image analysis framework that enables scientists and clinicians to rapidly extract comprehensive biomarker and morphology expression profiles and to identify a relevant subset of descriptors by correlating them against patient outcomes.
"Definiens is pleased to partner with Metamark Genetics, and to incorporate our image and data analysis software technology into Metamark's pioneering Oncology diagnostic offerings," said Thomas Colarusso, Vice President of Sales & Operations for Definiens Inc. "The capability to provide detailed readouts from tissue analysis is opening up new gateways for developing diagnostic assays as we enter the age of personalized medicine. We believe the Definiens Developer XD and Tissue Studio software will enable Metamark to classify tumor heterogeneity of multiplexed tissue stains and derive prognostic and predictive assays."
About Metamark Genetics, Inc.
Metamark is a privately held oncology company focused on the development of function-based prognostic assays for early staged cancers. The MetamarkDx Prognostic Assays under development are based on Metamark's proprietary Prognosis Determinants, genes discovered through leading edge cancer research and demonstrated to play a causal role in promoting tumor progression and spread. For further information, please visit the company's website at www.metamarkgenetics.com.
About Definiens
Definiens is a leading Health Image Intelligence company that develops software solutions for biomedical image analysis, data mining and clinical decision support. The company's software analyzes images from cell-based assays, whole tissue slides and full body scans and allows users to correlate this information with data derived from other sources, supporting better decisions in research, diagnostics and therapy. By automating analysis workflows and generating new knowledge, Definiens provides pharmaceutical and biotechnology companies, research institutions, clinical service organizations and medical professionals with deeper insights, faster results and better decision support. Harnessing the power of image intelligence, Definiens supports personalized medicine and aims to significantly improve the quality of patients' lives. Definiens is headquartered in Munich, Germany, and has offices throughout the United States. Further information is available at www.definiens.com.
Press Contacts:
Metamark Genetics, Inc.
Mark R. Straley
President & CEO
mstraley@metamarkgenetics.com
617-583-1422
Definiens, Inc.
Dr. Martin Baatz
Vice President Marketing
mbaatz@definiens.com
SOURCE Definiens