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• Theradiag reaches new milestone in the development of two new theranostics tests in rectal cancer

• Theradiag secures access to multicentric patient cohorts with two leading cancer research partners

Croissy-Beaubourg and Montpellier, July 22, 2015 – Theradiag (ISIN: FR0004197747, Ticker: ALTER), a company specializing in theranostics and in vitro diagnostics, today announced that it has signed collaboration agreements with two leading cancer research partners, the UNICANCER group and Bordeaux University Hospital, in order to advance the development of its Circulating microRNAs in Advanced Rectal Cancer (miCRA) project. miCRA was launched in 2013 and rewarded in 2014 as part of the Worldwide Innovation Challenge[1].

“Rectal cancer is one of the most common types of cancer, with over 182,000 cases diagnosed each year in the world and with a relapse-rate of 35%. The number of new diagnosis of rectal cancer is expected to rise significantly by 2020[2]. It is therefore essential to improve rectal cancer treatment with new theranostics tests which can anticipate response to treatment and detect risks of cancer recurrence. Our miCRA project is a response to this significant unmet need”, commented Michel Finance, CEO of Theradiag.    

Theradiag is developing, via its subsidiary Prestizia and in partnership with the Cancer Institute of Montpellier, a member of UNICANCER, two simple, fast and non-invasive theranostics tests in this pathology: one for early prediction of response to standard radiochemotherapy treatment; the other for anticipation of metastatic recurrences. This innovative approach is based on the identification of a microRNA signature prior to the beginning of treatment and through the collection of one blood sample. MicroRNA biomarkers have already been identified as candidates for the signature and are currently being validated at a biological level.

The two collaboration agreements announced today will give Theradiag access to a total of 440 blood samples collected as part of two large clinical studies:

–          The Phase III PRODIGE 23 clinical trial in rectal cancer led by the UNICANCER group and coordinated by Professor Thierry Conroy of the Lorraine Cancer Institute ;

–          The Phase III GRECCAR 12 clinical trial in rectal cancer, led by Professor Eric Rullier of Bordeaux University Hospital. Professor Rullier is already advising Theradiag as a member of the experts committee of the miCRA project[3].

Theradiag will use the collected blood samples as part of the multicentric biological validation phase of miCRA’s theranostics tests. These samples will come in addition to those already collected on a retrospective cohort of 64 patients provided by the Cancer Institute of Montpellier and which are currently being used for the biological validation phase.

Theradiag’s scientific collaboration with UNICANCER and Bordeaux University Hospital will be illustrated in upcoming scientific publications regarding the potential of microRNAs as predictive biomarkers of the response to treatment and the risk of metastatic recurrence.

About UNICANCER 

UNICANCER, a hospital group entirely devoted to fighting cancer. UNICANCER groups together 20 French Comprehensive Cancer Centers (FCCC) which are private, non-profit establishments with a threefold mission of patient care, research and oncology teaching, as well as their Federation (UNICANCER Federation). R&D UNICANCER is an academic promoter of research with the goal of developing clinical and translational research in the field of cancer. R&D UNICANCER promotes clinical trials involving over 150 French and international research centers and hosts the French Delegation to the European Organisation for Research and Treatment of Cancer (EORTC). Key figures in 2014: 67 active clinical trials, including 34 which are actively recruiting, over 5,000 patients involved through 210 recruiting centers. More information at www.unicancer.fr

About Theradiag

Capitalizing on its expertise in the distribution, development and manufacturing of in vitro diagnostic tests, Theradiag innovates and develops theranostics tests (combining treatment and diagnosis) that measure the efficiency of biotherapies in the treatment of autoimmune diseases, cancer and AIDS. Theradiag notably markets the Lisa Tracker range (CE marked), which is a comprehensive multiparameter theranostic solution for patients with autoimmune diseases treated with biotherapies. With its subsidiary Prestizia, Theradiag is developing new biomarkers based on microRNAs for the diagnosis and monitoring of rectal cancer, auto-immune diseases and HIV/AIDS. Theradiag is thus participating in the development of customized treatment, which favors the individualization of treatments, the evaluation of their efficacy and the prevention of drug resistance. The Company is based in Marne-la-Vallée, near Paris, and in Montpellier, and has over 70 employees.

For more information about Theradiag, please visit our website: www.theradiag.com