AstraZeneca buys biotech Definiens
pharmafile | November 4, 2014 | News story | Research and Development, Sales and Marketing | AstraZeneca, Janssen, MedImmune, Pharmacyclics, binnig, definiens
AstraZeneca has strengthened its oncology capabilities with the acquisition of Definiens, a German company that has pioneered cancer imaging and data technology.
MedImmune which is the biological division of AstraZeneca, has snapped up Definiens in the deal worth $150 million as it seeks to boost its cancer immunotherapy offerings.
Executive vice president at AstraZeneca, Dr Bahija Jallal, says: “Definiens’ technology will complement our immuno-oncology approach and allow us to accelerate further our clinical programmes through its highly precise predictive and prognostic biomarker testing.”
Specialising in tumour analysis, Definiens is known for its pioneering Tissue Phenomics technology – an imaging and data diagnostic tool that is said to improve the identification of biomarkers in tumour tissue.
Created by Prof Gerd Binnig – the 1986 Nobel Laureate in physics – the technology unlocks information from cancer tissue samples by measuring the identity, location and relationship of genetic mutations in cells.
It is believed that using biomarkers to select patients for clinical trials could potentially shorten clinical timelines and increase response rates.
Thomas Heydler who is the chief executive at Definiens, says: “Definiens’ Tissue Phenomics approach marks a significant step toward closing the gap between genomics and patient outcomes. Together, MedImmune and Definiens can bring tailored treatments to patients faster.”
This announcement comes a day after the UK’s second largest pharma completed its $875 million takeover of Almirall’s respiratory drug portfolio. It is to pay up another $1.22 billion in development, launch and sales-related milestones, and means it now has the rights to a variety of drugs in many stages of development.
AZ has also revealed new partnerships with Pharmacyclics and Janssen to control clinical trials on patients using drug combinations.
Tom Robinson
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