Cofactor Genomics launches Pinnacle: a CAP-CLIA certified RNA-based oncology assay

SAN FRANCISCO, CA - Feb 16, 2017 - San Francisco, CA/St. Louis, MO -- Cofactor Genomics, a software-driven biotechnology company developing unique molecular diagnostics centered on RNA, has launched a clinically-validated oncology assay which provides unique insight into a patient’s cancer profile.

The assay, named Cofactor Pinnacle, utilizes the company’s proprietary software technology to compare each patient’s cancer expression profile to Cofactor’s database of thousands of expression profiles from the same cancer type. The assay reports on both aberrant oncology-relevant gene expression and known cancer gene fusions detected in the tumor sample. In 2016, after multi-year efforts to standardize and certify Cofactor’s foundational molecular protocols for clinical use, Cofactor became one of the first laboratories to receive CAP-accreditation for RNA-seq. Pinnacle is built on the foundation of these protocols; the assay is currently approved for use with Formalin-Fixed, Paraffin-Embedded (FFPE) tumor tissue.

Cofactor has secured early-access partnerships for the assay within two key groups: drug developers and academic medical centers. Within the drug development pipeline, Pinnacle is being used to identify new patient populations and explain phenotypic responses in trials. In the clinic, Cofactor Pinnacle is providing potential treatment targets for patients who have not responded to first or second line chemotherapy.

“Clinical oncology has relied so heavily on the development of DNA assays, but there’s still a biological gap to be addressed. Recognizing RNA’s ability to identify relevant targets in cancer drug development, as well as more accurately predict the correct treatment for cancer patients, are the key reasons we have built a company committed to developing technologies to interpret the complex data represented by RNA. Cofactor’s Pinnacle adds valuable biological context that’s needed and currently missing from oncology assays,” noted Cofactor CEO, Dr. Jarret Glasscock.

Pinnacle is offered as a laboratory-developed test exclusively through Cofactor’s CAP-accredited laboratories.

Pinnacle will be featured at CHI's 24th International Molecular Med TRI-CON 2017. Jon Armstrong, Cofactor’s CSO will present "Reaching the Pinnacle: A Unique Cancer Diagnostic Tool that Harnesses the Power of RNA" on Tuesday, February 21 at 11:45 am - 12:15 pm in the Molecular Diagnostics track.
 

About Cofactor Genomics

Cofactor Genomics uses RNA to diagnose disease.  Y Combinator backed Cofactor is founded by three former Human Genome Project molecular and data scientists who are developing key technologies to enable RNA’s use in understanding and diagnosing disease in the 95 percent of disease that can’t be diagnosed with DNA alone. Cofactor has contracts with eight of the world’s largest pharma and biotech companies, providing pre-clinical RNA sequencing and analysis, custom assay development, and clinical RNA sequencing.  With the acquisition of Narus Biotechnologies in 2015 and a fully-funded Phase II SBIR grant, Cofactor has expanded into the molecular diagnostics arena, centered on oncology and neurodegenerative diseases. Find out more about Cofactor Genomics at cofactorgenomics.com.   

For more information, contact:  info@cofactorgenomics.com

Or Dr. Jarret Glasscock, CEO, at 314-506-7623, or Jarret_Glasscock@cofactorgenomics.com