NanoString Technologies Names David W. Ghesquiere Senior Vice President, Corporate & Business Development

SEATTLE--()--NanoString Technologies, Inc. (NASDAQ: NSTG), a provider of life science tools for translational research and molecular diagnostic products, today announced the appointment of David W. Ghesquiere as Senior Vice President, Corporate & Business Development, effective immediately. In this role, Mr. Ghesquiere will work with NanoString’s Chief Executive Officer, Brad Gray, to shape the strategy of the company while leading NanoString’s corporate and business development efforts. His responsibilities will include pursuing growth-oriented collaborations, transactions and strategic initiatives to leverage and build the company’s technology base, diagnostic test pipeline and other value drivers.

Mr. Ghesquiere joins NanoString with over 20 years of experience in the biopharmaceutical industry in both North America and Europe. Mr. Ghesquiere was most recently Senior Vice President, Corporate & Business Development at Dendreon Corporation, where his primary responsibility was leading the strategic process to identify and pursue next generation technologies and therapeutics. Previously, he was an executive at OSI Pharmaceuticals (acquired by Astellas) where from 2005 to 2010 he held positions of increasing responsibility including Senior Vice-President of Corporate & Business Development, and served as a Board Member and Managing Director & Secretary of OSI Investment Holdings GmbH / OSI Investment Management GmbH. Earlier in his career, Mr. Ghesquiere was Director of Global Business Development for Aventis Pharmaceuticals (acquired by Sanofi) and worked in product marketing at Johnson & Johnson.

“David has a deep background in the drug development industry and oncology, two areas of importance to our strategy,” said Brad Gray, President and CEO of NanoString Technologies. “The addition of David to our executive team will accelerate our efforts to strengthen our menu of molecular diagnostics, and extend our reach and impact in the area of oncology drug development.”

“I believe that molecular diagnostics, and NanoString’s nCounter technology in particular, will play an important role in improving the lives of patients with cancer and other diseases as the vision of personalized medicine becomes a reality,” said Mr. Ghesquiere. “I am delighted to join the company to help map out the future for this disruptive technology platform with the potential to revolutionize the practice of oncology.”

The nCounter Analysis System for research applications, and the nCounter Dx Analysis System for high-complexity, CLIA-certified laboratories are highly automated and easy-to-use platforms that utilize NanoString’s novel digital barcoding chemistry to deliver high precision multiplexed assays. The nCounter Dx Analysis System supports the Prosigna Breast Cancer Prognostic Gene Signature Assay, an in vitro diagnostic assay that uses the gene expression profile of cells found in breast cancer tissue to assess a patient’s risk of distant recurrence of disease. The Prosigna Assay is the first in what the company expects to be a portfolio of genomic assays that will benefit cancer patients and oncologists in making treatment decisions.

About NanoString Technologies, Inc.

NanoString Technologies provides life science tools for translational research and molecular diagnostic products. The company's nCounter® Analysis System, which has been employed in basic and translational research since it was first introduced in 2008 and cited in more than 300 peer-reviewed publications, has also now been applied to diagnostic use as the nCounter Dx Analysis System. The company's technology offers a cost-effective way to easily profile the expression of hundreds of genes, miRNAs, or copy number variations, simultaneously with high sensitivity and precision. The company's technology enables a wide variety of basic research and translational medicine applications, including biomarker discovery and validation. The nCounter-based Prosigna™ Breast Cancer Prognostic Gene Signature Assay is the first in vitro diagnostic assay to be marketed through the company's diagnostics business. The nCounter Dx Analysis System is FDA 510(k) cleared for use with the Prosigna Breast Cancer Prognostic Gene Signature Assay; to date, it has not been cleared by the FDA for other indications or for use with other assays. The Prosigna Assay has been CE-marked and is available for use by healthcare professionals in the European Union and other countries that recognize the CE Mark and in which Prosigna is registered. For more information, please visit www.nanostring.com.

Forward Looking Statements

This press release contains forward-looking statements within the meaning of the Private Securities Litigation Reform Act of 1995, including statements regarding the development of additional diagnostic tests and establishment of collaborations or other transactions related to oncology drug development. Forward-looking statements are subject to risks and uncertainties that could cause actual results to differ materially and reported results should not be considered as an indication of future performance. These risks and uncertainties include, but are not limited to: risks associated with keeping pace with rapidly changing technology and customer requirements; risks regarding our ability to successfully introduce new products; risks regarding acceptance of our products by oncologists and companies involved in drug development; risks that new market opportunities may not develop as quickly as expected; risks associated with competition in marketing and selling products; risks of increased regulatory requirements; as well as the other risks set forth in the company's filings with the Securities and Exchange Commission. These forward-looking statements speak only as of the date hereof. NanoString Technologies disclaims any obligation to update these forward-looking statements.

The NanoString Technologies logo, NanoString, NanoString Technologies, nCounter, Prosigna, and nCounter Elements are trademarks or registered trademarks of NanoString Technologies, Inc. in various jurisdictions.

Contacts

For NanoString Technologies
Maurissa Messier of Bioscribe Inc., 760-539-7417
Maurissa@bioscribe.com

Release Summary

NanoString Technologies, provider of life science tools and molecular diagnostic products, announced the appointment of David W. Ghesquiere as Senior Vice President, Corporate & Business Development

Contacts

For NanoString Technologies
Maurissa Messier of Bioscribe Inc., 760-539-7417
Maurissa@bioscribe.com