PRESS RELEASE
POTOMAC FALLS, VA., May 6, 2013 — Metabiomics Corporation and Kindstar Global, the leading specialty clinical testing laboratory in China, have signed a licensing and distribution deal for the development of the world’s first microbiome-based screening test for colon polyps and colorectal cancer. The Metabiomics-developed assay will enable Kindstar to noninvasively detect colon polyps and early stage colorectal cancers in China by sequencing the microbial DNA biomarkers in stool samples.
The agreement, which was signed last week, launches a global strategy for clinical validation and rapid commercialization in the emerging Chinese health market that will leverage Metabiomics’ patent-pending next-generation sequencing technology platform and microbiome biomarkers with Kindstar’s clinical laboratory expertise and marketing, sales, and distribution channels. Kindstar currently services more than 3,300 hospitals across China from their three centralized laboratories in Beijing, Shanghai and Wuhan.
The Metabiomics-Kindstar deal follows Kindstar’s announcement of a strategic partnership with Illumina to provide genomic testing services in China. Metabiomics will provide its advanced microbiome-based molecular test kits for sequencing in China while providing advanced “computational diagnostics” and clinical research services in the USA from sequences generated on Kindstar’s Illumina MiSeqs in China linked via global cloud servers. Kindstar also has strong ties to the Mayo Clinic in the US and is financed by major US venture capital funds including Kleiner Perkins Caufield & Byers.
Kindstar Founder and CEO, Dr. Shiang Huang said in a statement, “Our partnership with Metabiomics is aligned with Kindstar’s mission of bringing the best technologies in the world to the Chinese healthcare market. We were intrigued by Metabiomics’ unique microbiome approach to diagnostics and we think that the colorectal cancer test can make a significant impact on Chinese health as well as being a significant revenue generator for Kindstar.”
Dr. Thomas Kuehn, President and CEO of Metabiomics, also commented, “We are thrilled to be working with a global leader in healthcare innovation such as Kindstar.” Adding, “This partnership represents a significant milestone for Metabiomics as we move forward on our mission to become a global leader in microbiome-based diagnostics.”
About Kindstar Global
Kindstar Global, with laboratory facilities in Beijing, Shanghai and Wuhan, provides specialty clinical diagnostic testing services to hospitals and physicians in every province of China. Kindstar is the first and largest specialty clinical diagnostic testing business in China, providing laboratory testing services to over 3,300 Chinese hospitals, including 930 tertiary hospitals (classification for largest leading hospitals). Kindstar is becoming the partner of choice to physicians in China for advanced diagnostics in many medical specialties including hematology, oncology, infectious diseases and medical genetics.
About Metabiomics
Metabiomics Corporation is an early-stage, diagnostics company that is developing non-invasive screening tests for gastrointestinal and autoimmune diseases based on human microbiome biomarkers. The company has developed/licensed patented/patent-pending technology that integrates advances in microbial ecology, next-generation DNA sequencing, and computational systems biology. These innovations were developed over the past 10 years in collaboration with Dr. Patrick Gillevet, Vice President and Chief Scientific Officer of Metabiomics, at the Microbiome Analysis Center at George Mason University and many other clinical research partners at leading academic medical centers in the US and Canada. Metabiomics was formed in 2011 as a wholly owned subsidiary of BioSpherex LLC to focus on molecular diagnostic application of human microbiome research in translational medicine.
Metabiomics Safe Harbor Statement: This press release contains forward-looking statements within the meaning of the Private Securities Litigation Reform Act of 1995, including statements relating to the potential results and future outcomes our clinical research and business plan; ability to discover biomarkers and diagnostic tests; our beliefs regarding the need for and value of molecular diagnostics; and the focus and attributes of the company’s product pipeline, including the ability of the company’s tests to impact clinical practice. Forward-looking statements are subject to risks and uncertainties that could cause actual results to differ materially, and reported results should not be considered as an indication of future performance. These risks and uncertainties include, but are not limited to: the results of clinical and developmental studies; the applicability of clinical study results to actual outcomes; our ability to develop and commercialize new tests and the timing thereof; unanticipated costs or delays in research and development efforts; the applicability of initial next generation sequencing studies to future results; the risk that we may not obtain or maintain reimbursement for diagnostic tests we may develop, both domestically and abroad; our ability to compete against third parties; the risks and uncertainties associated with the regulation of our tests by the FDA and other agencies abroad; and the other risks set forth in the company’s business plans and presentations. These forward- looking statements speak only as of the date hereof. Metabiomics disclaims any obligation to update these forward-looking statements.