Two Independent Studies Use the GeoMx Digital Spatial Profiler to Investigate the Role of the Tumor and Micro-environment in Immunotherapy Response

SEATTLE, Oct. 08, 2018 (GLOBE NEWSWIRE) -- NanoString Technologies, Inc. (NASDAQ:NSTG), a provider of life science tools for translational research and molecular diagnostic products, today announced that the first peer-reviewed publications using the GeoMx™ Digital Spatial Profiler have been published in the journal Nature Medicine.  Two independent papers describe the use of Digital Spatial Profiling (DSP) technology to identify biomarkers correlating with response to neoadjuvant therapy in patients with high-risk melanoma. 

The GeoMx Digital Spatial Profiler was used to characterize pretreatment tumor biopsies and revealed differential expression of several potential biomarkers, including B2M and CD3.  The first publication was led by researchers at the DSP Center of Excellence at the Netherland Cancer Institute and entitled “Neoadjuvant versus adjuvant ipilimumab plus nivolumab in macroscopic stage III melanoma” (https://www.nature.com/articles/s41591-018-0198-0).

“We used the DSP platform to characterize pretreatment tumor biopsies to understand how the preexisting immune status of the melanoma biopsies predicts response,” said Christian Blank, M.D., Group Leader of Immunology at the Netherlands Cancer Institute. “The high plex capabilities of DSP technology enabled us to interrogate many more potential biomarkers than would have been possible on these very small tissue biopsies with standard or multiplexed IHC approaches.”

The second study, entitled “Neoadjuvant immune checkpoint blockade in high-risk resectable melanoma,” was led by Dr. Jennifer Wargo, M.D., M.M.Sc. and Dr. Michael Tetzlaff, M.D., Ph.D. of the MD Anderson Cancer Center (https://www.nature.com/articles/s41591-018-0197-1).

“In this study, we were interested in characterizing predictors of response to neoadjuvant nivolumab or nivolumab and ipilimumab.  DSP technology enabled us to quantify protein expression specifically in tumor infiltrating immune cells in both pre-treatment and on-treatment biopsy specimens—many of which were small needle core biopsy specimens with a limited number of tumor and/or immune cells,” said Dr. Jennifer Wargo. “With DSP technology we were able to discover that both presence of particular immune cell populations and their activation status may be predictive of clinical benefit to this therapy.”

“Each of these studies independently demonstrates the value of the Digital Spatial Profiling approach in identifying potential biomarkers that may guide patient management in terms of therapeutic strategy and follow up,” said Alessandra Cesano, M.D., Ph.D., NanoString’s chief medical officer. “I look forward to these publications being the first of many that will address previously unanswered questions both from mechanistic as well as clinical perspectives in the field of immuno-oncology using this novel, multi-plexed molecular profiling approach to spatially dissect tumors.”

The data for both publications was generated as part of the DSP Technology Access Program, under which samples are processed at NanoString using prototype GeoMx Digital Spatial Profilers. 

The GeoMx Digital Spatial Profiler enables researchers to rapidly and quantitatively characterize tissue morphology with a high-throughput, high-plex RNA and protein profiling system that preserves precious samples for future analyses.  NanoString and its collaborators have presented DSP data in more than a dozen abstracts at major scientific meetings, demonstrating the utility of DSP technology to address a wide range of biological questions in Formalin Fixed Paraffin Embedded (FFPE) tissues.

NanoString recently announced the GeoMx™ Priority Site (GPS) program which offers customers the opportunity to be among the first to receive a GeoMx instrument following its expected commercial launch in the first half of 2019, as well as advanced service and support.  Inclusion in the GPS Program will also provide researchers the opportunity to begin generating data on their samples through the Technology Access Program in advance of receiving their GeoMx instrument.  GPS status will be limited to the first 20 participants who purchase the commercial system.

Interested parties can learn more about DSP by visiting https://www.nanostring.com/scientific-content/technology-overview/digital-spatial-profiling-technology.

About NanoString Technologies, Inc.

NanoString Technologies provides life science tools for translational research and molecular diagnostic products. The company's nCounter® Analysis System has been employed in life sciences research since it was first introduced in 2008 and has been cited in more than 2,000 peer-reviewed publications. The nCounter Analysis System offers a cost-effective way to easily profile the expression of hundreds of genes, proteins, miRNAs, or copy number variations, simultaneously with high sensitivity and precision, facilitating a wide variety of basic research and translational medicine applications, including biomarker discovery and validation. The company's technology is also being used in diagnostics. The Prosigna® Breast Cancer Prognostic Gene Signature Assay together with the nCounter Dx Analysis System is FDA 510(k) cleared for use as a prognostic indicator for distant recurrence of breast cancer. In addition, the company collaborates with biopharmaceutical companies in the development of companion diagnostic tests for various cancer therapies, helping to realize the promise of precision oncology.

For more information, please visit www.nanostring.com.

NanoString, NanoString Technologies, the NanoString logo, GeoMx, nCounter and Prosigna are trademarks or registered trademarks of NanoString Technologies, Inc. in various jurisdictions.

Forward-Looking Statements

This news release contains forward-looking statements within the meaning of Section 27A of the Securities Act of 1933 and Section 21E of the Securities Exchange Act of 1934 and the Private Securities Litigation Reform Act of 1995. These forward-looking statements include statements regarding the performance and attributes of Digital Spatial Profiling, including the commercial availability of DSP and the potential ability of DSP to identify biomarkers that can predict therapeutic response to immunotherapy. Such statements are based on current assumptions that involve risks and uncertainties that could cause actual outcomes and results to differ materially. These risks and uncertainties, many of which are beyond our control, include market acceptance of our products; delays or denials of regulatory approvals or clearances for products or applications; the impact of competition; delays or other unforeseen problems with respect to manufacturing, product development or clinical studies; adverse conditions in the general domestic and global economic markets; as well as the other risks set forth in our filings with the Securities and Exchange Commission. These forward-looking statements speak only as of the date hereof. NanoString Technologies disclaims any obligation to update these forward-looking statements.

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