AutoGenomics And Targeted Molecular Diagnostics Announce A Development Partnership For Novel Cancer Biomarkers For Targeted Therapy
Carlsbad, CA - AutoGenomics, Inc., an innovative molecular diagnostics technology company, and Targeted Molecular Diagnostics, a leading laboratory providing pharmacogenomics tests, today jointly announced a three-year development partnership.
The companies will collaborate to develop novel cancer biomarkers for oncology performed on the AutoGenomics INFINITI(TM) platform that will initially be used by pharmaceutical and biotech companies in preclinical and clinical development of targeted therapies. The first such assay will be a gene expression assay associated with tumor response and resistance to compounds targeting the HER1 and HER2 pathways. This HER1 and HER2 assay will provide invaluable information to drug developers who are working with either small molecule inhibitors or monoclonal antibody-based therapies. Assays will include mutational analysis of growth receptors such as EGFR and c-kit to be used in patient selection for targeted therapies. Mutations in EGFR and c-kit are associated with response to tyrosine kinase inhibitors. Future assays will cover specific breast cancer response to therapies, apoptotic response and resistance to chemotherapy.
In this partnership, Targeted Molecular Diagnostics will guide the development of the BioFilmChip(TM) microarray content based on its expertise and proven knowledge of targeted signaling pathways. AutoGenomics will provide the technology to develop these tests on its platform, the INFINITI(TM) System, to ultimately enable routine use.
"The combination of an intelligently developed microarray assay on a highly sophisticated platform with powerful user convenience will deliver great value to pharmaceutical and biotech companies in their efforts to develop potent targeted therapies," said Dr. Sarah Bacus, President and CEO of Targeted Molecular Diagnostics. "AutoGenomics is the ideal partner for Targeted Molecular Diagnostics since they share our urgency of translating research discoveries into clinical solutions as rapidly as possible."
"This partnership supports our strategy of developing relevant biomarkers for disease and therapy with our new system designed for the clinical laboratory," said Fareed Kureshy, President and CEO of AutoGenomics. "With the increasing number of targeted therapies now available, medical practitioners need more sophisticated yet cost-effective tools to identify the best treatment for an individual cancer patient. Our alliance with Targeted Molecular Diagnostics, who keenly pursue the behavior of tumors and the action mechanisms of the targeted therapies, will provide valuable solutions to characterize and classify specific types of cancer. In addition, customized assays will be developed based on specific user requirements for clinical trials, drug and disease studies. The first assay will be available for clinical evaluation within 9 to 12 months."
SOURCE: AutoGenomics, Inc.