TGen spin-off MedTrust Online enables cancer doctors to quickly obtain best-available information

TGen has spun off its third company: MedTrust Online, a reliable 1-stop medical information source for oncologists

SCOTTSDALE, Ariz. – Oct. 21, 2008 – TGen has spun off its third company: MedTrust Online, a reliable one-stop medical information source for oncologists.

The for-profit, privately held MedTrust Online draws on a variety of data sources, including genetic-based medical discoveries by the non-profit, Phoenix-based Translational Genomics Research Institute.

Scottsdale-based MedTrust Online aims to provide oncologists with the knowledge they need to design the best tailor-made treatments for individual patients.

"MedTrust Online is the first, comprehensive Internet-based solution that enables physicians to practice precision medicine,'' said Chris Yoo, MedTrust's President and Chief Executive Officer. "We provide clinically-useful knowledge to help physicians find and communicate with each other about cutting-edge cancer treatments for the benefit of their patients.''

MedTrust Online is the third company to spin out of TGen Accelerators Management, a firm designed to quickly translate TGen's genetic research discoveries into medical treatments and services.

"While MedTrust is our third spin-off company, it is a first in the informatics area for TGen Accelerators, and marks a beginning in the effort to use the vast knowledge generated by TGen scientists for the commercial benefit of doctors and the general public,'' said MaryAnn Guerra, TGen's Chief Business Officer and President of TGen Accelerators.

Richard Love, a former TGen Chief Operating Officer and former CEO of ILEX Oncology Inc, praised the advent of MedTrust as a boost to the local economy.

"The creation of MedTrust is part of the promise TGen holds for helping Arizona develop local biomedical expertise, jobs and productive venture partnerships,'' said Love, now a Manager for Translational Accelerator LLC, or TRAC, an Arizona-based bioscience venture capital group. "I personally believe that MedTrust can have a bigger positive impact on patient care than anything I've seen come along over the past decade."

TGen and MedTrust Online signed licensing and services agreements Aug. 5 covering TGen-generated technologies and personnel.

MedTrust Online solution will help speed information to oncologists as they seek the best knowledge available about various diseases, especially quality information about potential drug therapies.

The MedTrust Online's Electronic Curbside Consult provides doctors with a platform for discussing difficult cases with experts and promotes peer-to-peer collaboration.

Also, MedTrust has formed a partnership with the South Texas Oncology and Hematology, one of the Southwest's leading cancer care providers. STOH is assisting MedTrust in creating its web site, www.medtrust-online.com, which is expected to go public to doctors starting in December.

In addition, MedTrust has added two key executives to its management team:

• Dr. Leo Otake, a widely published graduate of the Yale University School of Medicine. Otake has been named Vice President of Medical Informatics. Otake's primary responsibilities include coordinating the collection, organization and distribution of MedTrust Online content, including peer-reviewed medical journals and pharmaceutical databases. He also will be in charge of managing relationships with oncologists and advisers.

• Russell J. Clark, an attorney with an extensive background in conducting cancer data analytics and creating proprietary tools to identify and analyze patterns of care. Clark has been named Executive Vice President of Business Development. Clark's primary responsibilities include developing business opportunities and recruiting doctors to subscribe to MedTrust. Clark has more than 25 years of experience in health care, legal and business ventures.

MedTrust Online LLC, www.medtrust-online.com, headquartered in Scottsdale, Ariz., provides oncologists with clinically useful technology applications and solutions. MedTrust Online brings together experts in Oncology, information technology, computational biology, pharmaceutical drug development, and personalized medicine to capture, organize, analyze, integrate and present the most up-to-date medical facts from a vast array of sources. This data is provided to doctors in a comprehensive yet concise way unavailable anywhere else.

The Translational Genomics Research Institute (TGen) is a non-profit organization dedicated to conducting groundbreaking research with life changing results. Research at TGen is focused on helping patients with diseases such as cancer, neurological disorders and diabetes. TGen is on the cutting edge of translational research where investigators are able to unravel the genetic components of common and complex diseases. Working with collaborators in the scientific and medical communities, TGen believes it can make a substantial contribution to the efficiency and effectiveness of the translational process. For more information, visit: www.tgen.org.

Press Contact:
Steve Yozwiak
TGen Senior Science Writer
602-343-8704
syozwiak@tgen.org