Distribution Agreement Will Streamline Methotrexate Determinations

Measurement of levels of the anticancer and anti-autoimmune disease drug methotrexate in human serum or plasma will be streamlined by the integration of a quantitative methotrexate assay into the menu of a popular line of clinical chemistry autoanalyzers.

Methotrexate, which acts by inhibiting the metabolism of folic acid, was originally designed as a chemotherapeutic drug (using high doses). In low doses methotrexate is a generally safe and well tolerated drug for the treatment of certain autoimmune diseases. Because of its effectiveness, low-dose methotrexate is now first-line therapy for the treatment of rheumatoid arthritis.

The ARK Methotrexate Assay produced by ARK Diagnostics (Fremont, CA, USA) is intended for the quantitative determination of methotrexate in human serum or plasma on automated clinical chemistry analyzers. The measurements obtained are used in monitoring levels of methotrexate to help ensure appropriate therapy.

ARK Diagnostics has signed a distribution agreement that will enable laboratories to integrate its methotrexate test into the Roche (Basel, Switzerland) therapeutic drug monitoring (TDM) menu for its cobas c 501 and cobas c 502 clinical chemistry analyzers.

"Using the ‘partner channel’ approach to integrate our Methotrexate test into the menu on Roche analyzers will enable many more clinical laboratories to expand the testing services they can offer to physicians for therapeutic drug monitoring," said Robert O’Malley, vice president of marketing, sales, and service at ARK Diagnostics. "We look forward to further collaboration with Roche in the field of drug monitoring tests."

"Roche is committed to providing a comprehensive menu of assays to support the varying needs of our customers. The addition of ARK’s Methotrexate test to the Roche test menu will provide access for our customers to a specialized test for cancer drug monitoring with proven quality and performance," said Randy Pritchard, senior vice president of Roche Professional Diagnostics. "This partnership demonstrates our commitment to finding innovative ways to offer a more comprehensive TDM portfolio."

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