Eutropics signs $1.5M NCI contract to develop predictive diagnostic tests for guiding Acute Myeloid Leukemia treatments

CAMBRIDGE, Mass., Sept. 24, 2014 /PRNewswire/ -- EUTROPICS Inc., a privately held company developing novel diagnostic tests, today announced that it has signed a contract with the National Cancer Institute through the Small Business Initiative Research (NCI-SBIR) program to develop its' Praedicare Dx platform for personalized medicine approaches in Acute Myeloid Leukemia (AML) patient management. The assay provides a clinically validated biomarker/ diagnostic to help guide the use of several approved therapies for several hematologic cancer indications and is being tested as a companion test for experimental therapies currently in development.

With this support from the NCI Eutropics will perform expanded clinical verification studies of established algorithm readouts of Praedicare Dx tests for two AML treatments currently in use. The multicenter studies will be performed at Eutropics' CLIA certified labs in collaboration with investigators from Johns Hopkins Sydney Kimmel Comprehensive Cancer Center, Mayo Clinic Scottsdale, Stanford University School of Medicine, MD Anderson Cancer Center, and Fred Hutch Cancer Research Center.

"The successful conclusion of these studies will allow the adoption of this test as an important clinical tool," said Raoul Tibes, MD, PhD, Director of the Acute and Chronic Leukemia Program, Division of Hematology, Mayo Clinic and Mayo Clinic Cancer Center, Scottsdale, who also added, "Obtaining this support from the NCI is a significant milestone in the process of bringing this technology to patients."

Michael Cardone, Ph.D. CEO of Eutropics commented; "The award of this contract from the NCI affirms Eutropics' path forward to provide important tests in treating AML patients and enhances the commercial development of the Praedicare Dx platform technology."

About Eutropics:

Eutropics'  technology platform, PraediCare Dx, delivers CLIA certified in vitro diagnostic assays. Based on clinical evidence the tests have demonstrated medical utility and are being positioned as commercial products that can improve patient outcome by directing the best treatment options. The tests also provide a biomarker for guided cancer drug development. PraediCare Dx delivers unique understanding into a cancer cells' ability to respond to chemotherapies, enabling the physician to choose the treatment option most likely to benefit the individual patient.

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SOURCE Eutropics Inc.