Strategic Partnership Launches Molecular Assay for Breast Cancer

By LabMedica International staff writers
Posted on 22 Dec 2010

A real-time polymerase chain reaction (RT-PCR) based panel has been optimized for analysis of ribonucleic acid (RNA) in suspected cancerous tissue samples.

The assay is a breast cancer-segregation panel, which measures 96 genes identified in a proprietary meta-analysis of cancer genomic data from more than 5,000 clinical samples. The RNA is extracted from formalin-fixed, paraffin-embedded (FFPE) tissues.

AltheaDx, Inc., (San Diego, CA, USA) will process and analyze samples in its San Diego-based Clinical Laboratory Improvement Amendments/ Good Laboratory Practice (CLIA/GLP) laboratory. The other partner, Compendia Bioscience, (Ann Arbor, MI, USA), will manage downstream data analysis and statistical correlation to patient outcomes in clinical trials. AltheaDx has facilitated the clinical utilization of biomarkers through validation and clinical sample testing under GLP and/or CLIA. The Breast Cancer Segregation Panel is now available to aid clinical diagnosis.

Francois Ferre, PhD, AltheaDx's cofounder and CEO, said, "Compendia Bioscience is the recognized leader in translating cancer genomic data into meaningful information related to patient outcomes in clinical trials. Compendia's powerful bioinformatics platform is providing highly valuable content around which we can develop predictive tests for our other partners." Daniel R. Rhodes, PhD, cofounder and CEO of Compendia Bioscience added, "AltheaDx has been a pioneering developer of PCR-based assays in clinical settings since its inception with very deep technical capabilities in genetic analysis."

The two companies will jointly create novel products and services focused on cancer biomarker discovery and subsequent development of tests that predict patient outcomes in clinical trials. Under the terms of the partnership, the companies plan to develop Segregation Panels for other cancer types. The next assay, the Colorectal Cancer Segregation Panel, will be released in 2011.

Related Links:
AltheaDx
Compendia Bioscience