Agendia® Names Joyce A. O'Shaughnessy, MD as New Principal Investigator for FLEX Study

Renowned breast oncologist and clinical researcher to lead ongoing efforts to accelerate diagnostic discoveries and enable precision oncology through real-world evidence-based study platform

IRVINE, Calif. and AMSTERDAM, Oct. 10, 2023 /PRNewswire/ -- Agendia^®, Inc., a global leader in innovative genomic technology and diagnostic tests, announced today that Dr. Joyce A. O'Shaughnessy, MD has been appointed as the new National Principal Investigator for the FLEX Study, a real-world, large-scale, prospective, observational breast cancer study (NCT03053193) intended to enable the discovery of novel gene expression profiles, through the capture of whole transcriptome and extensive clinical data, to expand knowledge and improve precision in the management of breast cancer.

Dr. O'Shaughnessy is board certified in both internal medicine as well as medical oncology and focuses her practice and clinical research on breast cancer treatment. She is Director of Breast Cancer Research at Baylor Charles A. Sammons Cancer Center and Chair of the Breast Disease Committee for Sarah Cannon Research Institute in Dallas, TX, and a member of the American Association for Cancer Research and American Society of Clinical Oncology.

In addition to her work as a clinician and educator, Dr. O'Shaughnessy also founded The School of Breast Oncology, a curriculum-based program for medical, radiation, and surgical oncologists that aims to reinforce and expand their knowledge and expertise in breast cancer diagnosis, treatment, and management.

"I'm thrilled to sign on as the national principal investigator for FLEX as accrual continues and as we continue to analyze a myriad of in-depth questions about the transcriptional programs that underlie the natural history and response to treatment of all of the breast cancer subtypes," said Dr. O'Shaughnessy. "The study is providing a very valuable tool to prognosticate and predict response to therapy, and to interrogate the mechanisms of treatment resistance across many thousands of early-stage breast cancer patients, with long follow-up. I look forward to working with Agendia and the extended FLEX study team as we generate more impactful data that will shift the standard of care for all patients with breast cancer."   

To date, more than 14,000 patients have been successfully enrolled in the FLEX Study, with representation of various ages, races, ethnicities, and health statuses. With over 1,000 Black women enrolled, it's the largest prospective cohort of Black women with whole genome and clinical data, fueling critical discoveries of their gene expression. The FLEX Study's growing, diversified patient population, as well as additional studies that have examined the impact of race on the underlying biology of HER2+ tumors, emphasize Agendia's commitment to progressing research of racial disparities in breast cancer.

"We are ushering in a new era of breast cancer genomics as our science and clinical development continue to provide insights that will help optimize treatment, and help improve outcomes for women with breast cancer," said Dr. William Audeh, MD, MS, Chief Medical Officer of Agendia. "We are honored to have Dr. Joyce O'Shaughnessy join our efforts as the National Principal Investigator for the landmark FLEX Study. Her leadership will undoubtedly contribute to the success of this research and foster new collaborations."

For more information about Agendia and the FLEX Study, visit www.agendia.com and follow Agendia on Facebook, Twitter,  and LinkedIn.

About Agendia

Agendia is a leading provider of innovative solutions in the field of precision oncology. With a focus on early-stage breast cancer, Agendia offers reliable biological insights that inform personalized treatment decisions for patients and their care teams. Their advanced genomic assays, MammaPrint^® + BluePrint^®, enable clinicians to quickly identify the most effective treatment plan, minimizing the risk of both under- and over-treatment.

Founded in 2003 in Amsterdam, Agendia is headquartered in Irvine, California with a state-of-the-art laboratory facility. Led by world-renowned scientists and oncologists, Agendia is committed to advancing genomic insights through ongoing research. This includes the notable FLEX Study– the world's largest whole transcriptome Real-World Evidence-based Breast Cancer database which aims to revolutionize precision in breast cancer management. With cutting-edge technology, research and innovation, Agendia strives to shape the future of precision oncology and make a significant impact in the fight against breast cancer.

Media Contact: 
Andie Shcolnik
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SOURCE Agendia