IMAC Holdings Announces Research Collaboration with Vanderbilt University Medical Center to Advance Immuno-Oncology Biomarker Discovery
IMAC Holdings (OTCQB: BACK) has announced a significant one-year research collaboration between its subsidiary Ignite Proteomics and Vanderbilt University Medical Center (VUMC) focused on breast cancer immunotherapy research. The partnership will utilize Ignite's reverse-phase protein array (RPPA) platform to analyze protein-signaling pathways in tumor samples.
Under the agreement, VUMC will provide FFPE tumor tissue samples from patients undergoing chemotherapy and immunotherapy, while Ignite will conduct RPPA analysis of up to 80 specimens. The study will examine priority targets including MHC-I/II, PD-L1, AKT/mTOR, and EGFR/HER2. Initial data packages are expected within two months of sample receipt, and Ignite receives first right to negotiate exclusive licenses for jointly developed IP.
The collaboration aims to advance biomarker discovery for immunotherapy response, addressing the current limitations of single-analyte tests in predicting treatment outcomes.
IMAC Holdings (OTCQB: BACK) ha annunciato una collaborazione di ricerca significativa della durata di un anno tra la sua controllata Ignite Proteomics e il Vanderbilt University Medical Center (VUMC), focalizzata sulla ricerca nell'immunoterapia del cancro al seno. La partnership utilizzer脿 la piattaforma reverse-phase protein array (RPPA) di Ignite per analizzare le vie di segnalazione proteica nei campioni tumorali.
Secondo l'accordo, il VUMC fornir脿 campioni di tessuto tumorale FFPE da pazienti sottoposti a chemioterapia e immunoterapia, mentre Ignite eseguir脿 l'analisi RPPA su fino a 80 campioni. Lo studio esaminer脿 obiettivi prioritari come MHC-I/II, PD-L1, AKT/mTOR e EGFR/HER2. I primi dati sono attesi entro due mesi dal ricevimento dei campioni, e Ignite avr脿 il diritto di negoziare in via prioritaria licenze esclusive per la propriet脿 intellettuale sviluppata congiuntamente.
La collaborazione mira a far progredire la scoperta di biomarcatori per la risposta all'immunoterapia, superando le attuali limitazioni dei test basati su un singolo analita nella previsione degli esiti terapeutici.
IMAC Holdings (OTCQB: BACK) ha anunciado una colaboraci贸n de investigaci贸n significativa de un a帽o entre su subsidiaria Ignite Proteomics y el Vanderbilt University Medical Center (VUMC), centrada en la investigaci贸n de inmunoterapia para el c谩ncer de mama. La asociaci贸n utilizar谩 la plataforma reverse-phase protein array (RPPA) de Ignite para analizar las v铆as de se帽alizaci贸n proteica en muestras tumorales.
Seg煤n el acuerdo, VUMC proporcionar谩 muestras de tejido tumoral FFPE de pacientes que reciben quimioterapia e inmunoterapia, mientras que Ignite realizar谩 un an谩lisis RPPA de hasta 80 muestras. El estudio examinar谩 objetivos prioritarios como MHC-I/II, PD-L1, AKT/mTOR y EGFR/HER2. Se esperan los primeros datos dentro de dos meses tras la recepci贸n de las muestras, y Ignite tendr谩 el derecho preferente para negociar licencias exclusivas sobre la propiedad intelectual desarrollada conjuntamente.
La colaboraci贸n tiene como objetivo avanzar en el descubrimiento de biomarcadores para la respuesta a la inmunoterapia, superando las limitaciones actuales de las pruebas basadas en un solo analito para predecir los resultados del tratamiento.
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IMAC Holdings (OTCQB : BACK) a annonc茅 une collaboration de recherche d'une dur茅e d'un an entre sa filiale Ignite Proteomics et le Vanderbilt University Medical Center (VUMC), ax茅e sur la recherche en immunoth茅rapie du cancer du sein. Ce partenariat utilisera la plateforme reverse-phase protein array (RPPA) d'Ignite pour analyser les voies de signalisation des prot茅ines dans des 茅chantillons tumoraux.
Dans le cadre de l'accord, le VUMC fournira des 茅chantillons de tissus tumoraux FFPE provenant de patients recevant une chimioth茅rapie et une immunoth茅rapie, tandis qu'Ignite r茅alisera une analyse RPPA pouvant porter sur jusqu'脿 80 sp茅cimens. L'茅tude examinera des cibles prioritaires telles que MHC-I/II, PD-L1, AKT/mTOR et EGFR/HER2. Les premiers r茅sultats sont attendus dans les deux mois suivant la r茅ception des 茅chantillons, et Ignite b茅n茅ficie d'un droit prioritaire pour n茅gocier des licences exclusives sur la propri茅t茅 intellectuelle d茅velopp茅e conjointement.
Cette collaboration vise 脿 faire progresser la d茅couverte de biomarqueurs pour la r茅ponse 脿 l'immunoth茅rapie, en r茅pondant aux limites actuelles des tests bas茅s sur un seul analyte pour pr茅dire les r茅sultats des traitements.
IMAC Holdings (OTCQB: BACK) hat eine bedeutende einj盲hrige Forschungskooperation zwischen seiner Tochtergesellschaft Ignite Proteomics und dem Vanderbilt University Medical Center (VUMC) angek眉ndigt, die sich auf die Immuntherapieforschung bei Brustkrebs konzentriert. Die Partnerschaft wird die Reverse-Phase-Protein-Array (RPPA)-Plattform von Ignite nutzen, um Proteinsignalwege in Tumorproben zu analysieren.
Im Rahmen der Vereinbarung stellt VUMC FFPE-Tumorgewebeproben von Patienten, die sich einer Chemotherapie und Immuntherapie unterziehen, zur Verf眉gung, w盲hrend Ignite die RPPA-Analyse von bis zu 80 Proben durchf眉hrt. Die Studie untersucht vorrangige Zielstrukturen wie MHC-I/II, PD-L1, AKT/mTOR und EGFR/HER2. Erste Datens盲tze werden innerhalb von zwei Monaten nach Erhalt der Proben erwartet, und Ignite erh盲lt das Erstverhandlungsrecht f眉r exklusive Lizenzen an gemeinsam entwickeltem geistigem Eigentum.
Die Zusammenarbeit zielt darauf ab, die Entdeckung von Biomarkern f眉r die Immuntherapieantwort voranzutreiben und die derzeitigen Einschr盲nkungen von Einzelanalyttests bei der Vorhersage von Behandlungsergebnissen zu 眉berwinden.
- Partnership with prestigious Vanderbilt University Medical Center enhances research credibility
- Access to valuable clinical samples for biomarker validation
- First right to negotiate exclusive license for jointly developed IP
- Potential to improve immunotherapy patient selection and treatment outcomes
- Each party must fund its own work in the collaboration
- No guaranteed commercial outcomes from the research
- Timeline of one year may limit scope of findings
Insights
IMAC's collaboration with Vanderbilt leverages advanced proteomics technology for breast cancer biomarker discovery, potentially enhancing precision immunotherapy selection.
This research collaboration between IMAC Holdings' subsidiary Ignite Proteomics and Vanderbilt University Medical Center represents a strategic scientific partnership in the immuno-oncology field. The one-year project will utilize Ignite's reverse-phase protein array (RPPA) platform to profile tumor-immune signaling pathways in breast cancer samples.
The collaboration targets a critical unmet need in cancer treatment. While immunotherapies like pembrolizumab have revolutionized oncology, response rates remain below
The technical approach involves laser-capture micro-dissection and high-throughput analysis of FFPE tumor tissue from patients undergoing standard chemotherapy and immunotherapy. The scope includes profiling up to 80 tumor specimens across priority targets including MHC-I/II, PD-L1, AKT/mTOR, and EGFR/HER2 pathways 鈥� all crucial in understanding tumor-immune interactions.
Two aspects make this collaboration particularly valuable: First, Ignite's contribution is in-kind assay support rather than direct financial investment, creating a capital-efficient research model. Second, Ignite secured a first right to negotiate exclusive licenses to any jointly developed intellectual property, potentially creating future commercial opportunities.
With initial data packages expected within just two months of sample receipt, this collaboration represents a near-term catalyst for generating preliminary insights that could accelerate biomarker discovery in precision oncology 鈥� a field essential for improving immunotherapy patient selection and outcomes.
This collaboration with Vanderbilt University Medical Center positions IMAC Holdings' subsidiary Ignite Proteomics at the intersection of two high-growth healthcare segments: precision oncology diagnostics and immunotherapy biomarker development.
The strategic value lies in Ignite's differentiated RPPA platform technology, which can quantify multiple protein biomarkers simultaneously from minimal tissue samples. This addresses a fundamental challenge in cancer care 鈥� identifying which patients will respond to expensive immunotherapies before treatment begins. Current PD-L1 tests have limited predictive power, creating a market opportunity for multi-dimensional biomarker platforms.
The commercial structure is notably favorable. Ignite contributes technical capabilities rather than cash, while gaining access to Vanderbilt's clinically annotated samples and research expertise. More importantly, Ignite secured first right to negotiate exclusive licenses to any jointly developed IP 鈥� potentially creating a pathway to proprietary diagnostic or companion diagnostic assets.
From an infrastructure perspective, Ignite already operates a CLIA-certified, CAP-accredited laboratory, providing the necessary regulatory framework for eventual clinical implementation of research findings. The company's existing 32-biomarker clinical RPPA assay could potentially be enhanced through this collaboration.
The two-month timeline to initial data represents an efficient research cadence that could generate preliminary results before year-end. While commercial impact remains speculative until specific biomarkers are validated, this collaboration represents a scientifically sound approach to addressing a clear market need 鈥� improving immunotherapy patient selection beyond single-analyte methods to potentially improve treatment decisions for breast cancer patients.
Project will leverage Ignite Proteomics鈥� reverse-phase protein array (RPPA) platform to profile tumor-immune signaling in breast-cancer samples
Golden, CO, Aug. 07, 2025 (GLOBE NEWSWIRE) -- Ignite Proteomics LLC, a subsidiary of IMAC Holdings, Inc. (OTCQB: BACK), today announced a one-year research collaboration with Vanderbilt University Medical Center (VUMC) to characterize protein-signaling pathways that help breast-tumor cells evade the immune system. Under the agreement, VUMC will provide de-identified formalin-fixed, paraffin-embedded (FFPE) tumor tissue from patients undergoing standard of care chemotherapy and immunotherapy, while Ignite will perform laser-capture micro-dissection and high-throughput RPPA analysis of priority immune and signaling biomarkers, including validation of those previously shown to be beneficial in identifying patients who need immunotherapy to achieve a cure.
鈥淧artnering with VUMC鈥檚 world-class immuno-oncology team allows us to deploy our RPPA platform on rigorously annotated clinical samples,鈥� said Faith Zaslavsky, President and Chief Executive Officer of Ignite Proteomics. 鈥淏y quantifying many immune-checkpoint and signaling proteins simultaneously, we aim to illuminate mechanisms of response and resistance that genomic and single protein tests alone cannot capture.鈥�
Dr. Justin Balko, Pharm.D., Ph.D., Principal Investigator at VUMC, added: 鈥淭his collaborative study gives us a unique window into tumor鈥搃mmune interactions in breast cancer. Ignite鈥檚 pathway-level protein read-outs should accelerate our search for actionable biomarkers that can refine immunotherapy strategies and combination regimens.鈥�
Key terms of the collaboration
| 听 | 鈼� | Scope: RPPA profiling of up to 80 FFPE tumor specimens covering priority targets such as MHC-I/II, PD-L1, AKT/mTOR, EGFR/HER2, and additional phospho-signaling nodes. |
| 听 | 鈼� | Structure: Each party funds its own work; Ignite鈥檚 contribution is in-kind assay support. |
| 听 | 鈼� | Timeline: Initial data packages are expected within 2 months of sample receipt. |
| 听 | 鈼� | Intellectual-property option: Ignite receives a first right to negotiate an exclusive license to any jointly developed IP. |
About Immunotherapies
Immune-checkpoint blockade - led by pembrolizumab (Keytruda) and peer PD-1/PD-L1 or CTLA-4 antibodies - has transformed modern oncology, achieving durable responses across more than two dozen tumor types. Yet objective response rates still hover below 40 percent and resistance frequently emerges, underscoring the limitations of single-analyte tests such as PD-L1 IHC. Multi-dimensional biomarker platforms - integrating pathway-level protein, genomic and micro-environment data - are therefore essential to match immunotherapies to the patients most likely to benefit and to deliver these life-extending drugs earlier in the treatment journey.
About Ignite Proteomics
Ignite Proteomics, a subsidiary of IMAC Holdings, delivers pathway-level protein analytics to guide precision oncology. Operating a CLIA-certified, CAP-accredited laboratory, Ignite鈥檚 clinical RPPA assay quantifies 32 phospho- and total-protein biomarkers from minute biopsy material, with many more in research stages, enabling oncologists and drug developers to match patients with the most effective targeted and immune therapies.
About Vanderbilt University Medical Center
Vanderbilt University Medical Center, based in Nashville, Tennessee, is a global leader in academic medicine, research, and patient care, hosting more than two million patient visits each year and maintaining one of the nation鈥檚 largest programs in cancer research and treatment.
Forward-Looking Statements
This press release contains forward-looking statements within the meaning of the Private Securities Litigation Reform Act of 1995, including, but not limited to, statements regarding the expected scope, timeline, and potential outcomes of the collaboration with VUMC. Forward-looking statements are based on current assumptions and involve risks and uncertainties that could cause actual results to differ materially from those expressed or implied. Important factors that could affect actual results include, among others, the successful completion of the research project, the validity and reproducibility of study data, regulatory developments, and the ability of the parties to negotiate any future license agreement. Except as required by law, IMAC Holdings undertakes no obligation to update forward-looking statements contained herein to reflect events or circumstances after the date of this release.
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