AstraZeneca continues personalised healthcare push

pharmafile | January 19, 2010 | News story | Sales and Marketing AstraZeneca, Dako, Diagnostics, Iressa 

AstraZeneca and cancer diagnostics specialist Dako Denmark are to develop companion diagnostics for a number of the pharma company’s oncology projects, including biologics and small molecules.

The tests will then be used by doctors to help determine the most appropriate cancer treatment for patients.

The deal is part of AstraZeneca’s Personalised Healthcare strategy, under which it aims to develop novel, reimbursable products that can improve patients’ lives, and is the first in a series of strategic alliances the pharma company aims to make with diagnostics firms.

Dako chief executive Lars Holmkvist said: “Targeted treatment with personalised medicine is the future, and the outcome of this collaboration will be beneficial not only for cancer patients, but also as a significant contributive factor in cutting health care costs.”

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The agreement builds on AZ’s development in personalised healthcare, the highpoint of which has so far been the launch of its targeted cancer drug Iressa in the EU. 

Alan Barge, head of oncology development at AstraZeneca said, “The alliance heralds the intentions of both companies to work closely together to develop new drugs linked to diagnostic tests that predict which patients are most likely to respond to treatment, ensuring that we are giving the right treatment, to the right patient, the first time.”

The financial terms of the deal were not disclosed.

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