AltheaDx to Offer the DxS K-RAS Test for Clinical Studies
DxS K-RAS test will assist US oncologists in studying patient response to cancer therapies in clinical trials
MANCHESTER, UK — November 4, 2008 — DxS Ltd, a personalised medicine company and leader in the provision of companion diagnostics, have today announced an agreement with US-based Oncology diagnostic and biopharmaceutical services company AltheaDx, Inc., which will provide US study centres with access to DxS’ K-RAS mutation detection assays.
The deal will see AltheaDx use DxS’s K-RAS Mutation Test Kit to support clinical research where cancer patients are assessed for their K-RAS mutation status.
Today’s deal builds on DxS’ continued expansion this year with the exclusive global distribution agreement with Roche earlier this year. The deal also builds on the AltheaDx biomarker development collaboration with BiPar Sciences and Poniard Pharmaceuticals, and reinforces the position of AltheaDx as the premier biopharma partner for signature discovery, and companion diagnostic development.
Commenting on the announcement, Dr. Stephen Little, CEO of DxS Ltd said: “The deal with AltheaDx, a leading provider of biopharma testing services and cancer diagnostics, confirms once again that the DxS K-RAS test is now the ‘gold standard’ assay of choice for detecting mutations in K-RAS. We look forward to working with AltheaDx and expanding our reach in the US clinical trial market.”
Commenting on the deal, David Macdonald, CEO of AltheaDx said: “Our agreement with DxS expands our capability to market leading technology in genetic cancer testing. The DxS kit will enable AltheaDx to offer KRAS analysis for future clinical trials, in order to further advance the developments that have seen patients being prescribed the appropriate targeted cancer based on their genetic profile.”
The DxS K-RAS Mutation Test kit allows clinicians to screen patients for mutations in the K-RAS gene which is mutated in approximately 35-45% of metastatic colorectal cancer, as well as a variety of other cancers. This year also saw further clinical data announced at the ASCO conference, which has led to a need for colorectal cancer patients to be screened for mutations in the K-RAS gene in order to identify the most appropriate treatment. Patients carrying mutations in the K-RAS gene do not respond to a class of drugs known as EGFR inhibitors – such as Vectibix® and Erbitux®.
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For further information, please contact:
Sue Charles, Tony Stephenson, John McIntyre
College Hill Life Sciences
+44 (0)20 7866 7864
Tony.stephenson@collegehill.com
About DxS
DxS is a personalised medicine company providing products, technology and services to the healthcare industry to enable the delivery of safe and effective medicines. The Company has also established itself as a leader in the provision of companion diagnostics to the personalised cancer medicine market.
DxS has a range of products including cancer mutation assays and kits, molecular diagnostic technologies and genetic analysis services. Its TheraScreen® range of CE-marked kits can identify genetic tumour mutations affecting how patients respond to cancer therapies, enabling doctors and drug companies to provide the treatment most likely to benefit patients. DxS produce two clinical diagnostic kits, K-RAS, and EGFR-29. The K-RAS assay has been chosen as the companion diagnostic for Amgen’s colorectal cancer therapy Vectibix®.
DxS’ real-time PCR technology, Scorpions® utilises its speed and sensitivity and underpins the products and services. This class-leading technology is also available for licence to diagnostic companies, for research, applied and other applications.
DxS is a private, venture capital backed company operating from Manchester’s Technology Quarter within the UK.
For further information please visit www.dxsdiagnostics.com
About AltheaDx
AltheaDx, a leading San Diego-based pharmaceutical services firm, provides critical manufacturing and development services that support researchers worldwide in their advancement of novel therapies and efforts to apply new genomic information. Althea’s services include cGMP contract manufacturing of recombinant proteins, DNA-based therapeutics and vaccines, aseptic filling, and gene quantification using real-time PCR and gene expression analysis under GLP conditions. Additionally, Althea has introduced new services and technologies for the identification and development of genetic biomarkers with innovative programs such as the company’s proprietary eXpress PathwaySM. For more information, visit www.AltheaDx.com.
AltheaDx Contact:
Cyrus K. Mirsaidi
Executive Director
Genomics Business Development
858.882.0220, ext. 325
cmirsaidi@AltheaDx.com