03. August 2017 MedStar Health Collaborates with Indivumed to Advance Precision Oncology Research

MedStar Health will collaborate with Indivumed to advance our understanding of the molecular basis of cancer through collection and analysis of biospecimens and clinical data, making possible new individualized diagnosis and treatment of cancer. Indivumed is pleased to announce a collaboration with MedStar Health to individualize anti-cancer medical therapies through state-of-the-art biospecimen collection, preservation and analysis. Indivumed, a Germany based oncology research company has developed a unique global standard for tissue and clinical data collection, establishing the leading cancer data base which provides a unique basis for developing precision medicine in cancer. MedStar cares for thousands of cancer patients and survivors through the MedStar Health Cancer Network. In collaboration with the MedStar Health Research Institute, MedStar is increasing biospecimen collection started nearly a decade ago at Georgetown University's Lombardi Comprehensive Cancer Center. Over the term of the agreement, the cancer biobank will encompass MedStar's most active cancer programs throughout the system to partner with Indivumed's global annotated cancer biobank of human tumor tissue samples used to develop anti-tumor drugs and personalized medicine for cancer. This international partnership will allow MedStar researchers to access highest quality biospecimens and associated clinical data contributed by consenting patients. In addition, MedStar cancer researchers will have access to samples contributed by more than 30,000 patients within Indivumed's global cancer database operating within Europe, Asia and the United States. "Attaining individualized cancer diagnosis and treatment for every patient based on reliable clinical data and molecularly intact biospecimens is our goal," said Hartmut Juhl, M.D., founder and CEO of Indivumed, and a cancer researcher. "Our tool for achieving this goal is the establishment of a unique global cancer database using molecular information from tissues collected under stringent protocols. MedStar Health brings a special blend of clinical care, research and patient outreach within the largest hospital network in the Mid-Atlantic Region. Our long-standing partnership with Georgetown's Lombardi Cancer Center has made possible our expanded commitment to partner throughout the MedStar System. By building a biobank together, we can make a dramatic difference in phenotype based precision medicine worldwide" Juhl went on to say. "By participating in the Indivumed global network, we'll have access to a critical mass of biological samples and clinical data for use in unique research for our community," said Neil Weissman, MD, president of the MedStar Health Research Institute. "Indivumed is a world leader in tissue collection and preservation and will expand our ability to conduct metabolic, as well as gene-based, cancer research." MedStar's Cancer Network has recently been granted a three-year accreditation with Commendation from the Commission on Cancer (CoC) of the American College of Surgeons (ACoS). In addition, the Georgetown University Lombardi Cancer Center holds the distinction of being a National Cancer Institute-designated Comprehensive Cancer Center, the only cancer center in the Washington area with such distinction. Louis M. Weiner, MD, director of Georgetown Lombardi and Director of MedStar's integrated cancer network stated firmly that, "the MedStar Cancer Network and Georgetown Lombardi are committed to delivering the highest standards of care and providing access to the most current cutting edge research for our patients suffering from this horrendous disease." Weiner continued, "the Indivumed cancer biobank has been and will continue to be a critical asset to our physicians and researchers in their quest to defeat cancer." Under an initial multi-year agreement, MedStar will collect lung, breast, colorectal, pancreatic and other cancer tissues at its most active cancer programs throughout the system for research and storage according to Indivumed's unique biobanking standard. Tissue collection at Georgetown Lombardi will continue pursuant to Georgetown University's existing agreement with Indivumed. Source; Indivumed Press Release, August 2nd, 2017, http://www.indivumed.com/news-and-media/medstar-health-collaborates-with-indivumed-to-advance-precision-oncology-research/?L=0