The Addario Lung Cancer Medical Institute, Champions Oncology and Motivated Patients Announce a Research Collaboration and Launch of a Patient Driven Clinical Study in ROS1 Positive Cancer

SAN CARLOS, Calif. and HACKENSACK, N.J., Aug. 15, 2017 /PRNewswire/ -- The Addario Lung Cancer Medical Institute (ALCMI), Champions Oncology (NASDAQ: CSBR), and the ROS1ders (voiced as "ross wonders") announce a preclinical study that will develop new models of cancers expressing a ROS1 gene rearrangement. This study is part of The Global ROS1 Research Initiative, which focuses on improving outcomes for this uncommon yet clinically important oncogene-driven cancer. The strength and novelty of the initiative stems from the ROS1ders driving the collaboration among cancer advocacy organizations, industry partners and researchers. The ROS1ders are a group of patients and caregivers dealing with ROS1 positive cancers, regardless of where the cancer originated.

"The Global ROS1 Research Initiative will gather vital research material from ROS1 patients who are otherwise too geographically dispersed to support a traditional clinical research project," said Lisa Goldman, one of the initiative's founders and a ROS1 lung cancer patient. "The enthusiasm and support from the Bonnie J. Addario Lung Cancer Foundation and ALCMI has been essential to the success of this ground-breaking patient-driven project."

ALCMI, a non-profit, patient-founded, international cancer research organization, collaborated with the ROS1ders to create the ALCMI-006 study, which will generate cancer models from tumor tissue donated by the ROS1ders after biopsies and surgeries. ALCMI will lead the study and Champions Oncology (NASDAQ: CSBR) will contribute their extensive experience creating patient-derived xenograft (PDX) mouse models. Champions has research labs strategically located throughout the US, UK, Israel and South Korea.

"The study will use online enrollment methods developed by ALCMI for other research studies to enable participation by the global ROS1der community," said Steven Young, ALCMI president & COO.

ROS1 rearrangements are found in a wide variety of cancer types but are relatively uncommon, occurring in one to three percent of lung, gastric and ovarian cancers, as well as melanoma, cholangiocarcinoma, glioblastoma and other cancers. Researchers have studied ROS1 primarily in lung cancer, which is the leading cause of cancer-related deaths worldwide. The FDA approved crizotinib, the first ROS1 targeted therapy, in 2016 for the treatment of patients with ROS1 positive lung cancer. However, there are no other FDA approved ROS1 targeted therapies for patients whose disease progresses after treatment with crizotinib.

This first of its kind study will create a collection of ROS1 cancer models – specifically PDX mouse models and cell lines – along with genomic sequencing data and patient medical histories for the models. The PDX models will be generated from an individual patient's tumor tissue implanted and grown in an immune-deficient mouse, which preserves the biological characteristics of the original patient tumor.

"Champions Oncology is pleased to expand its research collaborations by partnering with ALCMI for this patient-driven initiative to establish a unique cohort of models in ROS1 positive cancers," said Angela M. Davies, MD, chief medical officer, Champions Oncology Inc.

"Champions and ALCMI are combining their respective infrastructure, expertise and scientific commitment to build PDX models in this rare subtype of cancer and make those models available to academic and industry researchers, Dr. Davies said. "This PDX resource will facilitate development of new therapies and understanding mechanisms of resistance in ROS1 cancers."

"We know that lung cancer is not just one disease, but rather many different diseases. Through the study of ROS1 positive cancers, we are tackling that part of the overall cancer landscape," said Christine M. Lovly, MD, PhD, a lung cancer physician-scientist at Vanderbilt University Medical Center and member of the ALCMI network. "This is a paradigm shifting study, which has been spearheaded by a group of passionate and dedicated patients who are trying to advance treatment options for ROS1 positive cancers."

About ALCMI

The Addario Lung Cancer Medical Institute (ALCMI, voiced as "Alchemy"), founded in 2008 as a 501(c)(3) non-profit organization by lung cancer survivor Bonnie J. Addario, is a patient-centric, international research consortium driving research otherwise not possible. Working in tandem with its "partner" foundation the Bonnie J. Addario Lung Cancer Foundation (ALCF), ALCMI powers collaborative initiatives in genetic (molecular) testing, therapeutic discoveries, targeted treatments and early detection. ALCMI overcomes barriers to collaboration via a world-class team of investigators from 26 member institutions in the USA, UK, and Europe, supported by dedicated, centralized research infrastructures such as standardized biorepositories and data systems. ALCMI directly facilitates research by combining scientific expertise found at leading academic institutions with patient access through its network of community cancer centers – accelerating novel research advancements to lung cancer patients. By providing access to critical masses of patient stakeholders, academic, community and industry researchers, ALCMI and ALCF are making progress towards their shared goal of transforming lung cancer into a chronically managed disease by 2023.

About Champions Oncology
Champions Oncology, Inc. is engaged in the development of advanced technology solutions and services to personalize the development and use of oncology drugs. The Company's technology platform is a novel approach to personalizing cancer care based upon the implantation of primary human tumors in immune deficient mice followed by propagation of the resulting engraftments, or Champions TumorGrafts, in a manner that preserves the biological characteristics of the original human tumor in order to determine the efficacy of a treatment regimen. The Company uses this technology in conjunction with related services to offer solutions for pharmaceutical and biotechnology companies seeking personalized approaches to drug development that can lower the cost and increase the speed of developing new drugs. TumorGrafts are procured through agreements with a number of institutions in the U.S. and overseas as well as through Champions' Personalized Oncology Solutions business, in which results help guide the development of personalized treatment plans for individual patients.

For more information, visit Champions Oncology, Inc's website (www.championsoncology.com)

About ROS1ders
The ROS1ders are a group of patients and caregivers dealing with cancers of all types that test positive for acquired ROS1 rearrangements. We are building a community to accelerate ROS1 research, improve patient outcomes and turn ROS1 positive cancer into a manageable chronic disease. ROS1der members include over 180 patients and caregivers from 20 countries worldwide. For more information visit: https://ros1cancer.com, http://www.lungcancerfoundation.org/patients/ros1/

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SOURCE Addario Lung Cancer Medical Institute