Mira Dx Launches PreOvar Test for Ovarian Cancer Risk

New test leverages microRNA technology from Yale University

NEW HAVEN, CT - July 20, 2010 – Mira Dx announced the launch of a new test for women who may have inherited an increased risk for developing ovarian cancer. Based on a novel genetic variant discovered by researchers at Yale University, the test provides additional information for doctors and women at high risk of hereditary ovarian cancer. Research describing the variant, called the KRAS-variant, and its association with ovarian cancer is being published in the August 15, 2010 issue of the journal Cancer Research, a journal of the American Association for Cancer Research. A copy of the article is available on the following link: http://cancerres.aacrjournals.org/content/early/2010/07/16/0008-5472.CAN-10-0689.full.pdf+html

Yale University licensed the technology surrounding this test to Mira Dx to develop tests based on a class of small, highly conserved RNAs, called microRNAs (miRNAs). Recent work has shown that miRNAs play a key role in many cellular processes by “turning off” genes, and that they are involved in numerous cancers. “We discovered several important genetic variants that, by disrupting miRNA pathways, predispose certain individuals to develop cancer,” said Joanne Weidhaas, M.D., Ph.D., Associate Professor at Yale University and Mira Dx co-founder. “We believed that these markers could have significant clinical value, and were pleased to work with Yale to license the technology to Mira Dx for development and commercialization.”

The KRAS-variant discovered by Dr. Weidhaas and her colleague Dr. Frank Slack is strongly associated with ovarian cancer. Based on the Cancer Research publication, it occurs in approximately 10% of the general healthy US population and has been found in over 60% of women diagnosed with epithelial ovarian cancer who have a family history suggesting hereditary disease but were negative for other known mutations associated with hereditary ovarian cancer. It is estimated that last year in the US more than 21,500 new cases of ovarian cancer were diagnosed, and that 14,600 people died from the disease, according to the National Cancer Institute website.

“There is a real need for tools that can help women who have a family history of ovarian cancer to better understand their risk,” said Stephen Miller, President of Mira Dx. “We are pleased to launch the KRAS-variant test, called the PreOvar test, which can now be ordered by gynecologic oncologists and other clinicians.” Miller continued, “We hope that PreOvar will provide valuable information for the tens of thousands of women each year who grapple with the challenges of hereditary ovarian cancer.”

The PreOvar, test will be analyzed in the company’s CLIA lab in New Haven, CT. Information on the test is available from the company’s website, www.MiraDx.com.

About Mira Dx

Mira Dx is a genomics company founded on research discovered at Yale University that is dedicated to the development and commercialization of novel microRNA-based tests for risk assessment and companion diagnostics. Our goal is to provide information that can help clinicians better understand cancer to better serve their patients, allowing earlier diagnosis, better management and ultimately higher cure rates. For more information, please visit www.MiraDx.com.

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For more information, contact:
Stephen Miller, President, MiraDx
smiller@miradx.com, 203-789-9000 x206