SAN DIEGO, March 24, 2014 (GLOBE NEWSWIRE) -- Biocept, Inc. (Nasdaq: BIOC ), a molecular oncology diagnostics company specializing in Circulating Tumor Cells (CTCs), Circulating Tumor DNA (ctDNA) and biomarker analysis, today announced that it has appointed Raaj Trivedi as Vice President - Commercial Operations.
Mr. Trivedi has more than 15 years of leadership experience in biotechnology and diagnostic sales, marketing and business development, primarily focused on targeted therapy solutions in oncology. He joins Biocept from Life Technologies, now a part of Thermo Fisher Scientific Inc., where he was most recently the Commercial Leader for the Oncomine biomarker discovery platforms. In this role, Mr. Trivedi developed relationships with a large number of biopharmaceutical and academic partners. He was also responsible for integrating the Oncomine solution into Life's next-generation sequencing and companion diagnostic strategies.
Before Life Technologies, Mr. Trivedi worked at Clarient, a GE Healthcare Company, as Vice President of Marketing before leading all business development initiatives as Vice President of Business Development. While at Clarient, Mr. Trivedi was instrumental in building Clarient's clinical, biopharma and companion diagnostics businesses. Prior to Clarient, Mr. Trivedi led commercial efforts and strategy for leukemia and lymphoma diagnostic services at US Labs, now part of LabCorp. He began his career at Ernst & Young LLP in the company's consulting practice, focusing on high tech and life science market segments. Mr. Trivedi received a master's degree in Biotechnology from the University of Maryland and earned his bachelor's degree from the University of California, Irvine.
"Biocept is leading the transformation from tissue-based biomarker testing to blood-based testing using CTCs and circulating tumor DNA (ctDNA). It has become obvious in my interactions with leading oncology and biopharma companies that the challenges related to limited tissue access are only increasing and a blood-based testing solution is an absolute must," Mr. Trivedi said. "Biocept's core technology, along with its test menu and CLIA-certified laboratory, makes the company the ideal collaborator for both biopharma and academic partners looking for solutions in this space. I am excited to join the Biocept team and be a part of the company as it leads the diagnostics industry into the future of revolutionizing biomarker testing for targeted therapies."
Michael W. Nall, President and CEO of Biocept, commented, "Raaj is an experienced commercial leader whose strategic vision will be instrumental as we achieve our goal of advancing diagnostics to improve cancer treatment. Raaj is passionate about developing and implementing strategies that help fight cancer and has been integral in commercial successes seen at both Clarient and at Life Technologies. His strategic marketing and business development background, and resulting network of relationships, in the oncology and biopharma communities will serve Biocept well. We look forward to Raaj driving commercialization and strategic partnerships for our liquid biopsy solutions, including OncoCEE-BR TM our test for breast cancer which is already on the market and our planned solutions for lung, colorectal, melanoma, prostate and other solid tumors."
About Biocept, Inc.
Biocept, Inc., headquartered in San Diego, California, is a commercial stage oncology diagnostics company focused on providing information on patients' tumors to physicians using its proprietary technology platform to help improve individual patient treatment. Biocept has developed proprietary technology platforms for capture and analysis of circulating tumor cells and circulating tumor DNA utilizing a standard blood sample to provide physicians with important prognostic and predictive information to enhance individual treatment of their patients with cancer. Biocept currently offers its OncoCEE-BR TM test for breast cancer and plans to introduce tests for lung, colorectal, prostate and other solid tumors based on its proprietary technology platforms.
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This release contains forward-looking statements that are based upon current expectations or beliefs, as well as a number of assumptions about future events. Although we believe that the expectations reflected in the forward-looking statements and the assumptions upon which they are based are reasonable, we can give no assurance that such expectations and assumptions will prove to have been correct. Forward-looking statements are generally identifiable by the use of words like "may," "will," "should," "could," "expect," "anticipate," "estimate," "believe," "intend," or "project" or the negative of these words or other variations on these words or comparable terminology. To the extent that statements in this release are not strictly historical, including without limitation statements as to medical trends, the availability of collaborations, and anticipated product introductions, such statements are forward-looking, and are made pursuant to the safe harbor provisions of the Private Securities Litigation Reform Act of 1995. The reader is cautioned not to put undue reliance on these forward-looking statements, as these statements are subject to numerous risk factors as set forth in our SEC filings, including without limitation our need to grow our business and our operations, our need for capital, and the effects of reimbursement limitations and other health care statutory and regulatory initiatives. The effects of such risks and uncertainties could cause actual results to differ materially from the forward-looking statements contained in this release. Readers are advised to review our filings with the Securities and Exchange Commission, which can be accessed over the Internet at the SEC's website located at www.sec.gov
Investor Contact: The Ruth Group David Burke/Lee Roth (646) 536-7009 / (646) 536-7012 / Media Contact: The Ruth Group Melanie Sollid-Penton (646) 536-7023
