Biocept Launches Blood-based Test for Prostate Cancer and Expands Offering in Breast Cancer

Introduction of blood-based assay to detect androgen receptor expression builds on leading position in detecting and monitoring cancer through liquid biopsy

SAN DIEGO, Jan. 7, 2016 -- Biocept, Inc. (BIOC), a molecular diagnostics company commercializing and developing biomarkers to improve the detection and treatment of cancer, announces the launch of the CLIA-validated androgen receptor expression assay using a patient's blood for the detection and monitoring of late-stage prostate cancer and a certain form of breast cancer.

"This test represents a significant milestone in which we expand into prostate cancer and further demonstrate the versatility of our proprietary liquid biopsy platforms," said Michael W. Nall, President and CEO of Biocept.  "We continue to build on our leadership position in the emerging liquid biopsy field with commercialized tests for detection and monitoring of lung, breast, colon, gastric and now prostate cancers."

The Biocept assay uses circulating tumor cells (CTCs) from a simple blood draw to detect androgen receptor expression, which is prevalent in patients with advanced prostate cancer.  Prostate cancer is the second leading cause of male cancer-related death and the second most commonly diagnosed cancer among men in the U.S. with 220,800 cases identified in 2014, according to the American Cancer Society.  Approximately one in every seven men in the U.S. will be diagnosed with prostate cancer during his lifetime.

Androgen receptor is also found in a subset of patients with estrogen receptor negative, progesterone receptor negative and Her2 negative breast cancer, known as triple negative breast cancer.  Triple negative breast cancer accounts for 10-20% of breast cancer patients, who typically have a poorer prognosis than patients with other forms of breast cancer.

"Studying various forms of androgen receptor expression could play a future role in personalized medicine for patients with metastatic prostate cancer, castration-resistant prostate cancer and triple negative breast cancer," said Veena Singh, MD, Senior Vice President and Senior Medical Director of Biocept. "Androgen receptor expression has a long established role in prostate cancer, with published and ongoing studies examining its status in triple negative breast cancer suggest possible prognostic and predictive value in these patients."

About Biocept

Biocept, Inc. is a commercial-stage molecular diagnostics company that utilizes a proprietary technology platform and a standard blood sample to provide physicians with important prognostic and predictive information to enhance individual treatment of patients with cancer. Biocept's patented technology platform captures and analyzes circulating tumor DNA, both in CTCs and in plasma (ctDNA). Biocept currently offers assays for gastric cancer, breast cancer, lung cancer, colorectal cancer, prostate cancer and melanoma, and plans to introduce additional CLIA-validated assays in the near term. For additional information, please visit www.biocept.com.

Forward-Looking Statements Disclaimer Statement

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 our ability to improve the detection and treatment of cancer, the role of androgen receptor expression in personalized medicine and its prognostic and predictive value, our impact on diagnostic strategies, our ability to enhance individual cancer treatments and planned future offerings, 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 Securities and Exchange Commission (SEC) filings. The effects of such risks and uncertainties could cause actual results to differ materially from the forward-looking statements contained in this release. We do not plan to update any such forward-looking statements and expressly disclaim any duty to update the information contained in this press release except as required by law. Readers are advised to review our filings with the SEC, which can be accessed over the Internet at the SEC's website located at www.sec.gov.