Molecular Health Gains Patent for Novel Receptor Utilizing Computational Biomarker Discovery Technology

CAMBRIDGE, Massachusetts and HEIDELBERG, Germany, April 27, 2015 /PRNewswire/ --

Addresses unmet need in treatment of millions of cancer patients 

Molecular Health announced today it has been granted a patent in Europe entitled "Tissue Protective Erythropoietin Receptor". This latest patent supports Molecular Health's discovery that EPHB4 is a novel receptor for Erythropoietin (EPO), where EPHB4 binds to EPO and promotes tumor growth. EPO stimulates the production of red blood cells and is prescribed to treat anemia resulting from kidney failure or cancer treatment. Approximately 40% of cancer patients have anemia, growing to nearly 90% of cancer patients when being treated with chemotherapy. Analyzing cancer patient outcomes and available molecular data, Molecular Health scientists identified this novel receptor by utilizing Molecular Health´s computational biomarker discovery platform. This platform enables Molecular Health to support treatment research and development by the biopharmaceutical industry. 

EPO has been found to have notable adverse effects in some cases, including accelerated tumor growth and death. As a result, healthcare providers must receive special training prior to prescribing EPO, potentially limiting access and treatment effectiveness for their patients.

"Molecular Health's latest patent has the opportunity to further address an unmet need in the treatment of millions of cancer patients suffering with anemia," said Lutz Voelker, Chief Executive Officer of Molecular Health.

The granting of this latest patent in Europe further develops the opportunity for alleviating treatment toxicities and improving the benefit of EPO therapy in cancer patients. Combined, Molecular Health´s multiple patents detail methods of determining whether a cancer patient is suitable for EPO therapy inter alia by identifying the level of expression of a novel erythropoietin receptor, EPHB4. Molecular Health also holds corresponding patents in the United States and Canada.

Molecular Health is exploring several commercialization channels for offering a predictive test based upon its patented methods.

MOLECULAR HEALTH 

is a leading biomedical company that is transforming molecular data into actionable clinical information for more efficient and safe cancer treatment options for each individual cancer patient. Molecular Health's TreatmentMAP is the first registered medical device of its kind for the personalized cancer medicine in Europe. Molecular Health GmbH is audited and certified per DIN EN ISO 13485 for the design, development and production of software systems for the integrated analysis of clinical and genomic patient data to support treatment decisions and provision of related services. Learn more: http://www.molecularhealth.com/us-en/company

Press Contact 

North America: Mark Rodgers: 832-247-3068 mark.rodgers@molecularhealth.com

Europe / ROW: Rudi Schmidt: +491716050043 media@molecularhealth.com