October 10, 2014 – Laurentian University has been awarded a patent for the RNA Disruption Assay (RDATM), a technology that aids in the treatment of breast cancer. The test was developed by Laurentian University professor Dr. Amadeo Parissenti and by his research associate Dr. Baoqing Guo of Health Sciences North. The patent was issued in September by the Australian Patent Office.
The University has licensed the technology exclusively to Rna Diagnostics Inc., a Canadian molecular diagnostics company that develops diagnostic tools to improve chemotherapy management. In addition to other patents currently pending through its licensing arrangement with Rna Diagnostics, Laurentian has a number of patents pending worldwide on discoveries made at the University.
“We are immensely proud of the pioneering work of Dr. Parissenti and his research colleague Dr. Guo, and we are honoured to be holding the patent for a discovery that helps people by improving our understanding of cancer treatment,” said Laurentian University President and Vice-Chancellor Dominic Giroux. “We have enjoyed an exceptional relationship with Rna Diagnostics and we believe our collaboration will continue to produce significant advances for cancer patients everywhere.”
Dr. Parissenti is a professor of Chemistry and Biochemistry at Laurentian, as well as a faculty member at the Northern Ontario School of Medicine (NOSM) and an affiliate scientist with the Advanced Medical Research Institute of Canada (AMRIC), the research arm of Health Sciences North. He is also Chief Scientific Officer for Rna Diagnostics Inc.
The RNA Disruption Assay (RDATM) helps oncologists to measure a breast cancer patient’s response to chemotherapy at an early stage of treatment. The technology can be used after one or two cycles of chemo, and the results can determine whether patients would do better with another therapy.
It is anticipated that the knowledge generated by this patent and others currently pending will change the current treatment landscape for breast and other types of cancer. Rna Diagnostics currently has ongoing clinical trials and collaborations with healthcare leaders in Germany, Italy, Sweden, the United States, the United Kingdom and Canada.
“Congratulations to Laurentian University on this patent, and to Professor Parissenti and Dr. Guo on the acknowledgment of their key discovery,” said Dr. Ken Pritzker, President and CEO of Rna Diagnostics Inc. “RDA will assist cancer clinicians in personalized treatment decisions, save healthcare systems significant costs and most importantly, improve outcomes for breast cancer patients. Rna Diagnostics looks forward to our continuing collaboration with Laurentian University to bring RDA, a significant advancement in cancer chemotherapy practice management, to global markets.”
About Rna Diagnostics Inc.
Rna Diagnostics, a Canadian molecular diagnostics company, is developing diagnostic tools to improve chemotherapy management. The company’s first product, RNA Disruption Assay™ (RDA™), determines early in a woman’s breast cancer treatment how she is responding to chemotherapy. If the chemotherapy is not working effectively she can be switched quickly to other treatment, avoiding the harmful side-effects of ineffective chemotherapy and thereby improving her outcome. For more information on Rna Diagnostics, please visit www.rnadiagnostics.com