MGRM Monogram Technologies Inc

Clinical data utilizing Monogram's eTag(TM) technology featured in presentations at American Society of Clinical Oncology's (ASCO) 43rd Annual Meeting SOUTH SAN FRANCISCO, Calif., May 31 /PRNewswire-FirstCall/ -- Monogram Biosciences, Inc. (NASDAQ:MGRM) today announced that two presentations detailing initial studies on the clinical utility of its proprietary eTag technology in metastatic breast cancer will be presented at the 43rd American Society of Clinical Oncology (ASCO) meeting (June 1-5) in Chicago, Illinois. A third presentation will describe the molecular characterization of cell lines that have acquired resistance to the breast cancer drug Herceptin (trastuzumab). Currently under development, the eTag technology is a highly advanced diagnostic platform for quantifying protein expression, protein-protein interactions (e.g. receptor dimerization) and protein modification (e.g. phosphorylation). This unique capability enables the eTag technology to accurately assess signaling pathways that control cell growth, proliferation and survival. Dysregulation of these pathways has been associated with a wide variety of tumors, including breast, lung, prostate and colorectal cancers. Many new therapeutic candidates target various steps in these critical cell signaling pathways, potentially providing an opportunity for the diagnostic capabilities of the eTag technology to improve patient treatment and drug development. The presentations at the ASCO meeting describe the Company's progress in addressing two critical questions related to the treatment of HER2(+) breast cancer patients. First, why don't all HER2(+) breast cancers respond equally well to targeted therapy with Herceptin. And second, why do many HER2(+) breast cancers develop resistance to Herceptin treatment. The presentations are: - "Differential survival following trastuzumab treatment based on quantitative HER2 expression and HER2-HER2 dimerization in a clinic- based cohort of patients with metastatic breast cancer." (Poster 12 / Abstract 1025, presented Saturday, June 2, 8:00 a.m. - 12:00 p.m., Room S403) - "HER2 expression and HER2-HER2 dimerization identifies subpopulations of metastatic breast cancer patients with different probabilities of long- term survival following trastuzumab treatment and with different requirements for concomitant chemotherapy" (Poster JJ5, Abstract 10557, presented Sunday, June 3, 8:00 a.m. - 12:00 p.m., S Hall A2) - Patterns of HER-family receptor dimerization in trastuzumab susceptible and trastuzumab resistant cell lines (Poster A3, Abstract 2533, presented Sunday, June 3, 8:00 a.m. - 12:00 p.m., S Hall A2) "The eTag platform represents a powerful new tool for advancing personalized medicine in cancer treatment," said Monogram CEO Bill Young. "By providing quantitative measurements to characterize disease at the molecular level and by detecting the protein complexes to help accurately predict an individual patient's response to specific therapies, eTag technology may empower oncologists with the critical information needed to improve patients' lives and may help drive the development of more effective targeted cancer therapies." About the eTag System Monogram's eTag assays enable detailed analysis of protein drug targets and signaling pathways in cancer cells, using tissue lysates or FFPE specimens, which is the standard format in most pathology labs. The assays can provide information on a drug's mechanism of action, selectivity and potency in a biological setting in pre-clinical research, and enable selection of clinical trial populations later in a drug's development. In addition, Monogram believes these assays may ultimately be used to help physicians better determine whether certain therapies are more appropriate for individual cancer patients, and whether to combine therapies with different mechanisms or properties. The first commercially available activated receptor test panel based on eTag technology will be focused on the EGFR/HER receptor family. About Monogram Biosciences, Inc. Monogram is advancing individualized medicine by discovering, developing and marketing innovative products to guide and improve treatment of serious infectious diseases and cancer. The Company's products are designed to help doctors optimize treatment regimens for their patients that lead to better outcomes and reduced costs. The Company's technology is also being used by numerous biopharmaceutical companies to develop new and improved antiviral therapeutics and vaccines as well as targeted cancer therapeutics. More information about the Company and its technology can be found on its web site at http://www.monogrambio.com/. Forward Looking Statements Certain statements in this press release are forward-looking, including statements regarding the ability of assays based on the eTag technology to predict individual patient response to targeted cancer therapies. These forward-looking statements are subject to risks and uncertainties and other factors, which may cause actual results to differ materially from the anticipated results or other expectations expressed in such forward-looking statements. These risks and uncertainties include, but are not limited to, risks and uncertainties relating to the performance of our products; whether measurement of dimerization or protein pathway activation are key indicators in determining individual patient response; our ability to obtain additional cohorts of patient samples for additional studies, our ability to successfully conduct clinical studies and the results obtained from those studies; whether larger confirmatory clinical studies will confirm the results of initial studies; whether the results of studies conducted with patient samples treated with a particular targeted cancer therapy will be representative of results with other targeted therapies; whether clinical data derived from these studies will be adequate to support the commercial introduction of a test for patient responsiveness to targeted cancer therapies; the timing and launch of eTag assays for patient use; our ability to establish reliable, high-volume operations at commercially reasonable costs; the development of competitive technologies; actual market acceptance of our products and adoption of our technological approach and products by pharmaceutical and biotechnology companies; our estimate of the size of our markets; our estimates of the levels of demand for our products; the timing and ultimate size of pharmaceutical company clinical trials; whether payors will authorize reimbursement for its products; whether the FDA or any other agency will decide to regulate Monogram's products or services; whether the draft guidance on Multivariate Index Assays recently issued by FDA applies to our current or planned products; the ultimate validity and enforceability of our patent applications and patents; the possible infringement of the intellectual property of others; whether licenses to third party technology will be available; and whether Monogram is able to build brand loyalty and expand revenues.. For a discussion of other factors that may cause Monogram's actual events to differ from those projected, please refer to the Company's most recent annual report on Form 10-K and quarterly reports on Form 10-Q, as well as other subsequent filings with the Securities and Exchange Commission. We do not undertake, and specifically disclaim any obligation, to revise any forward-looking statements to reflect the occurrence of anticipated or unanticipated events or circumstances after the date of such statements. eTag is a trademark of Monogram Biosciences, Inc. Herceptin is a trademark of Genentech, Inc. contacts: Alfred G. Merriweather Jeremiah Hall Chief Financial Officer Feinstein Kean Healthcare Tel: 650 624-4576 Tel: 415 677-2700 DATASOURCE: Monogram Biosciences, Inc. CONTACT: Alfred G. Merriweather, Chief Financial Officer, +1-650-624- 4576, ; Jeremiah Hall, Feinstein Kean Healthcare, +1-415-677-2700, Web site: http://www.monogrambio.com/

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