Abbott expands diagnostic pact with GlaxoSmithKline
pharmafile | November 29, 2011 | News story | Research and Development, Sales and Marketing | Abbott, Cancer, GSK, non-small cell lung cancer
Abbott will develop a diagnostic kit for GlaxoSmithKline’s new lung cancer drug candidate.
This is an expansion of a previous deal between the two firms that focused on the development of PCR (polymerase chain reaction) tests to screen non-small cell lung cancer and melanoma tumours for expression of the MAGE-A3 antigen.
Under the new deal, Abbott will develop a PCR test for use on its diagnostic kit to screen for non-small cell lung cancers that express the PRAME antigen.
PRAME is expressed in over two-thirds (69%) of all non-small cell lung cancer cases, as well as in a wide variety of other cancer types, including melanoma, breast, ovarian, and bladder cancer.
These types of diagnostic tests are designed to identify specific DNA sequences to help doctors in determining which patients are more or less likely to benefit from a particular therapy.
Stafford O’Kelly, head of Abbott’s molecular diagnostics business, said: “This expanded collaboration, along with Abbott’s other recently announced partnerships in oncology, demonstrates the continued commitment Abbott is making to assess biomarkers linked to immunotherapies in various cancers.
“This agreement is a testament to the scientific advances Abbott and the industry is making in personalised medicine and companion diagnostics, which are helping ensure the right medicines get to the right cancer patients.”
Abbott recently announced that it was to split into two separate companies, with one focusing on pharmaceuticals and the other on medical devices and diagnostic kits.
The new diversified medicines company, which will keep the ‘Abbott’ name, will from next year be responsible for developing the new kit.
The firm already has several high profile testing kits including its recent diagnostic for Pfizer’s non-small cell lung cancer drug Xalkori (crizotinib), which tests for the over-expression of the ALK gene.
Ben Adams
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