Seattle, Wash — NanoString Technologies, Inc, aprivately held life sciences company marketing a complete solution for
detecting and counting large sets of target molecules in biological samples, today announced the appointment of J. Wayne Cowens, MD as chief medical officer. An industry veteran and clinical oncologist, Cowens will drive the development of the company’s pipeline of molecular diagnostics for cancer.
Cowens joins NanoString from Genomic Health where since 2004 he served in a series of senior medical positions, including as vice president, Clinical Oncology. At Genomic Health, Cowens led the development of the Oncotype DXR product pipeline for multi-gene expression profiling in various forms of cancer, including colon cancer, prostate cancer, and renal cell carcinoma and led the design of multiple clinical validation studies. In addition, he led Genomic Health’s program in health economics and has focused recently on studies designed to support reimbursement of the Oncotype DX Breast Cancer Assay outside the United States. Cowens previously held
senior product development and clinical affairs positions at Chiron Corporation (now Novartis Vaccines & Diagnostics) and Ribozyme
Pharmaceuticals, and worked as an oncology consultant for pharmaceutical and biotechnology companies, including IDEC Pharmaceuticals, Scios Inc., and Ligand Pharmaceuticals.
"Dr. Cowens is a pioneer in the field of molecular diagnostics, and one of only a handful of clinical leaders who has successfully identified,
validated, and commercialized a series of multiplexed gene expression signatures," said Brad Gray, president and CEO of NanoString Technologies. "His leadership in clinical development and health economics will be invaluable to NanoString as we build our molecular diagnostics business."
Working collaboratively with its research customers and other leaders in translational medicine, NanoString Technologies is assembling a pipeline of proprietary, high-value content for development as in vitro diagnostic assays on its nCounterR Analysis System. NanoString recently announced its program to develop in vitro diagnostic and research products based on the PAM50 gene signature for breast cancer intrinsic subtyping. The company’s goal is to become the platform of choice for diagnostic testing based on multiplexed gene expression signatures that can be offered in hospitals an pathology laboratories worldwide, following appropriate regulatory approvals.
"I have spent my career working to develop and deliver medical innovations to patients, physicians, and payors, and believe that the nCounter technology has the potential to bring about a change in the way molecular diagnostic testing is performed and could increase the cost effectiveness of cancer treatment," said Cowens. "I am excited to join a company that has a platform designed to be easy to use and robust enough to meet global demand for these complex but powerful tests through a distributed business model."
SOURCE: NanoString Technologies
