A&G is focused on the identification of biomarkers involved in the development of cancer cells and using such biomarkers as targets, developing theranostic (diagnostic and therapeutic combination) products useful in the diagnosis, treatment and monitoring of cancer. The company is comprised of two divisions, an R&D division focused on theranostic products, and the Precision Antibody division, recognized worldwide as a provider of high-quality, customized antibodies to pharmaceutical and biotech companies, as well as federal laboratories.

A&G has grown from an incubator company with four employees to a 12,000 sq.-ft. facility with 30 employees, of whom >50 percent are Maryland graduates. A&G’s financing is a mix of equity funding and profits from Precision Antibody. Non-dilutive funding has been obtained from NIH and Avon Foundation grants. The MIPS funding of studies at the University of Maryland have been important in the company’s goal of developing diagnostic kits for its theranostic portfolio.

A&G’s lead products in development, based on a unique biomarker called GP88 (progranulin), target both lung and breast cancer, as well as several other cancers. GP88, a glycoprotein, is produced and required by cancer cells for growth, proliferation and survival. In clinical studies, GP88 was detected in >80 percent of breast cancer tumors. High levels of GP88 in such tumors are statistically associated with a five-fold increase in the risk of recurrence, compared with patients with low or no GP88 detected in tumors. GP88 blood levels have been shown to be statistically elevated in breast cancer patients with progressive disease, compared with healthy individuals. Concurrent with the development of GP88 diagnostic kits for detecting GP88 in tumor tissue and blood, A&G is pursuing the development of an associated anti-GP88 monoclonal antibody therapeutic.  In pre-clinical xenograft models, the antibody was demonstrated to inhibit tumor growth and promote tumor regression. Toxicology and safety studies demonstrated anti-GP88 is safe and showed no toxicities in either acute or repeat dose studies. Thanks to an SBIR/NCI grant ($2 million), this therapeutic will enter Phase 1 clinical trials in 2018. The two diagnostic products will be used in this study to identify patients for treatment with the anti-GP88 and subsequently for monitoring patients during and post-treatment.