Veteran Genomic Health Executive, Dean Schorno, CPA, joins Adaptive Biotechnologies as Chief Financial Officer

SEATTLE, June 19, 2014 /PRNewswire/ -- Adaptive Biotechnologies, a clinical stage diagnostics company that leverages Next Generation Sequencing (NGS) to profile the adaptive immune system, is pleased to announce the appointment of Dean Schorno, CPA, as Chief Financial Officer and the newest member of the Company's expanding Executive Leadership Team. 

"The addition of a true pioneer in oncology diagnostics is highly advantageous as Adaptive shifts focus from research to the commercialization of clinical diagnostics, particularly in oncology, where Mr. Schorno has such deep relevant experience," said Chad Robins, President and Chief Executive Officer at Adaptive Biotechnologies. "We are also thrilled to have the rare perspective of a CFO with years of operational experience running Genomic Health's clinical laboratory, as we expand our facility to accommodate growth in the sales of our clinical diagnostic test, clonoSEQ, for measuring Minimal Residual Disease in blood cancers."

Mr. Schorno enjoyed 13 years of distinguished leadership positions at Genomic Health spanning financial, laboratory, and business operations. Prior to his most recent three-year tenure as CFO, Mr. Schorno managed the launch and operations of Genomic Health's clinical laboratory and oversaw financial affairs on a global basis.  Before joining Genomic Health, Dean founded and led a CPA and consulting firm. Dean holds a Bachelor of Science degree in Business Administration, from the University of California, Berkeley, and is a Certified Public Accountant.

"After assessing many emerging diagnostic players in my 13 years at Genomic Health, the profound promise of Adaptive's immunosequencing platform for the treatment of cancer patients stands out as uniquely special," said Mr. Schorno.  "I am looking forward to applying my skillset and directly comparable experience at Genomic Health  to the expansion of Adaptive's commercial infrastructure at this critical time for the Company's future success."

Mr. Schorno will oversee Adaptive's financial infrastructure, investor relations, human resources, and facilities management.

About Adaptive Biotechnologies
Adaptive Biotechnologies Corporation is a platform-based, diagnostic-driven company that leverages next generation sequencing ("NGS") to profile T-Cell and B-Cell Receptors ("TCRs" and "BCRs").  This breakthrough enables in-depth characterization of the adaptive immune system, which is the primary defense against cancer. By incorporating immunosequencing into clinical care, Adaptive can enhance the diagnosis, prognosis, and monitoring of cancer patients.

About clonoSEQ^TM
Adaptive's first CLIA certified clinical application, clonoSEQ^TM, is for monitoring Minimal Residual Disease ("MRD") in blood-based cancers. Improving the ability to accurately detect and track residual disease at a molecular level affords clinicians the potential to detect relapse earlier and improve patient care.

About immunoSEQ^TM
Adaptive incubates and validates potential clinical products in oncology, autoimmune disorders, and infectious diseases by offering fee-for-service access to its proprietary immune profiling sequencing technology under the brand name immunoSEQ^TM.  Adaptive will be introducing an immunoSEQ Kit for research use only in the fall of 2014 to facilitate the integration of immunosequencing into research centers globally.

Using the immunoSEQ platform, the company is currently validating a second novel oncology diagnostic to quantify the presence and clonality of Tumor Infiltrating Lymphocytes ("TIL") and to create a reliable measure of "immunocompetency" to predict or monitor response to cancer treatments that directly alter the host immune system.

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SOURCE Adaptive Biotechnologies Corporation