Inivata, a Cambridge UK chief in liquid biopsy, has employed a genomics thought chief as chief know-how officer.
Dr Alan Schafer will spearhead the event of Inivata’s main InVision® liquid biopsy know-how platform and new product growth.
He has over 25 years of genetics and molecular diagnostics expertise. He was beforehand CEO of 14M Genomics, a most cancers molecular diagnostics firm and previous to that served as CEO of Inhabitants Genetics Applied sciences, a enterprise specialising in infectious illness diagnostics and next-generation sequencing applied sciences.
Earlier roles embody these of International VP Know-how Growth at GlaxoSmithKline and VP Genetics at Incyte. Extra just lately, Dr Schafer has labored as an impartial marketing consultant for the biotechnology trade, academia and the funding group, providing his experience in genomic and biology applied sciences with a specific deal with the interface between science, know-how and enterprise.
He holds a PhD from the College of Southern California and has authored quite a few publications within the molecular genetics discipline.
Clive Morris, chief government officer of Inivata, stated: “Alan’s appointment to the management workforce displays our dedication to persevering with to advance our cutting-edge liquid biopsy know-how platform.
“He brings a wealth of expertise in molecular diagnostics which is able to assist to make sure that we stay on the forefront of innovation within the house as we drive our platform nearer to sufferers in want.”
Schafer added: “Inivata’s pioneering know-how presents the potential to remodel the lives of most cancers sufferers and it’s a very thrilling time to affix the corporate because it rolls out the RaDaR™ assay for the detection of residual illness and recurrence.
“That is clearly a key space of focus for potential biopharma companions and I look ahead to working with the remainder of the chief workforce to drive ahead Inivata’s technique.”
Inivata’s know-how is predicated on pioneering analysis from the Most cancers Analysis UK Cambridge Institute, College of Cambridge. Its lead product, InVisionFirst®-Lung is commercially accessible internationally and thru NeoGenomics within the US.
It presents aggressive sensitivity and turnaround, offering molecular insights that allow clinicians to make extra knowledgeable therapy choices for superior NSCLC sufferers.
Inivata has additionally launched the personalised RaDaR™ assay – permitting the extremely delicate detection of residual illness and recurrence. Inivata is partnering with pharmaceutical, biotechnology corporations and industrial companions in a variety of early and late stage most cancers growth applications.
The corporate has a CLIA licensed, CAP accredited laboratory in Analysis Triangle Park, North Carolina and R & D laboratories at Babraham Analysis Campus in Cambridge UK.
Earlier this 12 months Inivata obtained $25 million funding from the US. Inivata shaped a strategic collaboration with Nasdaq-quoted NeoGenomics, Inc for the commercialisation of its InVisionFirst®-Lung liquid biopsy check in the US.
NeoGenomics is a number one US-based most cancers diagnostics and companies firm. As a longtime participant within the discipline with important industrial attain and scale it’s a extremely complementary accomplice to advance the commercialisation of Inivata’s InVisionFirst-Lung.
As a part of the collaboration, NeoGenomics agreed to make a $25 million fairness funding in Inivata to take a minority shareholding with an choice to purchase the UK/US enterprise outright and secured a seat on the Inivata board.
Inivata stated the brand new funding can be used to speed up the corporate’s vary of liquid biopsy merchandise, together with additional growth work on RaDaR.
