med fusion, Pathologists Bio-Medical Laboratories (PBM) and Theranostics Health to Announce Availability of Novel Cancer Theranostic Test at ASCO

LEWISVILLE, Texas, May 1, 2013 /PRNewswire/ -- med fusion, Pathologists Bio-Medical Laboratories (PBM) and Theranostics Health will be introducing the first of Theranostics Health's TheraLink™ Assays for use in patients with malignant diseases at the upcoming American Society of Clinical Oncology (ASCO) Annual '13 Meeting, held in Chicago, IL from May 30, 2013 through June 4, 2013.  The TheraLink™ HER Family Assay for primary, recurrent and metastatic breast cancers provides a molecular analysis of each patient's unique cancer, based upon the functional activity of signal transduction pathways known to modulate cancerous growth.  This 'theranostic' assay uniquely measures the activity of drug targets as opposed to current molecular assays available to oncologists that rely on a genomic assessment of cancer.   The TheraLink™ HER Family Assay provides a direct link between active drug targets and the available therapies to identify the most effective personalized treatment options.

The TheraLink™ HER Family Assay provides a comprehensive molecular profile of the HER family of cell surface receptors and three key signaling pathways modulated by the HER family which have important roles in the therapeutic approach to treating breast cancer.  The assay augments currently available assays by providing information on HER family receptor activation and downstream signaling pathways that are amenable to therapeutic intervention. This assessment of the activation status of the pathways can help identify potential false positive and negative HER-2 tumors based upon immunohistochemical or FISH analysis of the tumor. The assay measures a panel of 14 critical proteins, receptors and signaling pathway members, providing actionable information for ten currently marketed therapeutics.

By providing evidence for the activation of these downstream signaling pathways, in conjunction with the activation status of the HER family of receptors that initiate this signaling, the assay provides the physician with an added level of evidence that the signaling pathway is functional and, therefore, an appropriate point of therapeutic intervention in an individual's tumor.

"We are pleased to be offering the TheraLink™ HER Family Assay through an organization of med fusion's vision and look forward to supporting its patient care goals," says Glenn Hoke, President and CEO of Theranostics Health. "This first proteomic assay will provide med fusion unique molecular information to ensure their client doctors have more evidence to help guide their patients to the right therapy, thus ensuring that patients receive the best care possible."

"Identification of pathway up & down regulation is another piece in the puzzle in consideration for innovative cancer care in the era of genomic, proteomic & metabolomic medicine," says Dr. Michelle Shiller, Board Certified Anatomic and Clinical Pathologist for Pathologists Bio-Medical Laboratories (PBM).

"Signal pathway analysis may provide the most relevant information for targeting cancer therapies," says Gary L. Smith, Ph.D., Interim CEO and Chief Operating Officer of med fusion.  "Furthermore, collaboration with Theranostics and PBM continues to support med fusion's strategic alliances in the offering of personalized diagnostics and patient-centric model of care delivery."

About med fusion 
Headquartered in Lewisville, Texas, med fusion is an integrated, advanced laboratory and clinical trials service organization providing support to healthcare providers, biotech and pharmaceutical companies through a patient-centric support model. The company, with its' founders, McKesson (formerly USON), Texas Oncology (TXO), Baylor Healthcare Systems (BHCS), and Pathologists Bio-Medical Laboratories (PBM) is helping advance clarity in medicine, working to introduce more targeted diagnostics, reduce episode of care costs and enhanced system efficiencies.

Based in a 130,000 square-foot facility, the company's full -service clinical laboratory includes a dedicated test development and validation team to quickly meet the needs of clients and reference lab services such as pathology testing and molecular diagnostics. med fusion currently has over 400 experienced employees and a dedicated lab staff with an average of 16 years of experience.

For more information please visit www.medfusionservices.com.

About Pathologists Bio-Medical Laboratories (PBM) 
Pathologists Bio-Medical Laboratories (PBM) is a physician owned, independent pathology laboratory that has been serving the healthcare community for more than 50 years.  PBM provides technical, professional, consultative, and managerial services in pathology.  PBM currently has 40 Board certified physicians offering state-of-the-art services for clients and patients in all aspects of anatomic pathology, cytopathology, and molecular pathology.

For more information please visit www.pbmlabs.com

About Theranostics Health Inc. 
Theranostics Health, a privately-held biotechnology company, develops technologies to measure the activation status of key signaling pathways that are instrumental in the development of companion diagnostics for molecular targeted therapies.  While the Company has historically focused on providing services to pharmaceutical and biotechnology drug development companies, Theranostics Health is now offering access through clinical assays designed to help clinical oncologists advance personalized medicine through its TheraLink™ Theranostic Assays.

For more information please visit www.theranosticshealth.com.

Contact: 
Denise Stamos 
med fusion 
972-966-7047
[email protected]

SOURCE med fusion