LifeSci Advisors Initiates Coverage of Mirati Therapeutics
NEW YORK, NY--(Marketwired - Jul 18, 2013) - LifeSci Advisors, LLC (NASDAQ: MRTX) (TSX: MYG)
New Management Team and Renewed Focus on Personalized Cancer Therapeutics
Available for Download at www.lifesciadvisors.com/clients/mirati/
LifeSci Advisors, LLC, a leading provider of investment research and investor relations services in the life sciences sector, today announced that it has initiated coverage of Mirati Therapeutics Inc. (NASDAQ: MRTX) (TSX: MYG), a biopharmaceutical company pursuing the next generation of cancer therapeutics with treatments targeting specific patient populations. Over the course of the past several months Mirati, formerly known as MethylGene, has built a new management team with the experience necessary to execute on the Company's renewed strategy and focus in precision oncology development. Mirati plans to utilize a targeted approach to maximize the effectiveness of its novel development programs by selecting patients that are most likely to respond to treatment.
"The treatment paradigm in oncology is shifting away from traditional chemotherapy towards drugs directed at specific targets that drive tumors," said Andrew I. McDonald, Ph.D., Founding Partner at LifeSci Advisors. "Mirati has the potential to be a leader in this new wave of cancer treatments, and with an experienced management team led by Dr. Charles Baum in place the Company has the pieces in place to succeed."
Mirati has several targeted oncology development programs. MGCD265 is an orally available, small molecule, multi-tyrosine kinase inhibitor targeting Met, Axl, and VEGFRs. It is currently in Phase I/II clinical trials for the treatment of patients with solid tumors. Mocetinostat is a Phase II/III-ready histone deacetylase (HDAC) inhibitor with specificity for Class I HDACs that has demonstrated clinical activity in myelodysplastic syndromes, lymphomas, and various solid tumors. MGCD516 is an orally available, small molecule, multi-tyrosine kinase inhibitor targeting Met, Axl, VEGFRs, Eph, Ret and Trk. An IND filing for MGCD516 is expected in 2014.
In a 51 page Initiation Report by LifeSci Advisors, we explain the scientific rationale supporting Mirati's development candidates. The report provides a deep look into the preclinical and clinical data supporting the MGCD265, mocetinostat, and MGCD516 oncology development programs. The report examines the landscape for tyrosine kinase inhibitors, the market for targeted cancer therapies, including recent success stories, and critically examines competing products and development programs.
Dr. McDonald's full Initiation Report is available to download at no cost at the LifeSci Advisors website, www.lifesciadvisors.com. In addition to this Initiation Report, LifeSci Advisors will also provide ongoing coverage and event-based research updates on the Company as developments occur.
The LifeSci Advisors research team is led by Dr. Andrew I. McDonald, an industry veteran with more than 15 years of healthcare industry experience. Prior to co-founding LSA, Dr. McDonald was the Senior Biotechnology Analyst at Great Point Partners, a leading health care investment firm with over $500 million under management. Before Great Point, he was Co-Head of Healthcare Research and Lead Biotechnology Analyst at ThinkEquity Partners, a boutique investment banking firm focused on growth companies. Dr. McDonald holds a Ph.D. in organic chemistry from the University of California, Irvine, and, earlier in his career, worked as a medicinal chemist at both Pfizer and Cytokinetics.
About LifeSci Advisors:
LifeSci Advisors (LSA) is a leading research firm and communications consultancy dedicated to the life sciences industry. The firm provides strategic counsel, customized marketing communications, comprehensive research reports and investor relations services to companies that specialize in the discovery, development and commercialization of drugs, drug delivery systems, medical devices and diagnostics. To learn more about LSA, visit the company's website, www.lifesciadvisors.com.
Important Disclosures:
The research report described in this press release is not intended as an offering, recommendation, or a solicitation of an offer to buy or sell securities. The securities discussed in LSA research reports may be unsuitable for some investors depending on their specific investment objectives, financial status, risk profile, or particular needs. Investors should consider LSA reports as only a single factor in making their investment decisions and should not rely solely on these reports in evaluating whether or not to buy or sell the securities of the subject company. LifeSci Advisors has been compensated by the company that is the subject of the report described and future research reports, investor relations services, and general consulting services. Please read each report's full disclosures and analyst background on the LSA website, www.lifesciadvisors.com, before investing. LifeSci Advisors is not a registered investment adviser or broker-dealer.
Forward-looking statements:
This press release contains forward-looking statements subject to risks and uncertainties that could cause actual results to differ materially from those projected. These forward-looking statements represent LSA's judgment as of the date of this release. LifeSci Advisors disclaims, however, any intent or obligation to update these forward-looking statements.
