Alliance for Detection of Colon Cancer

A long-term strategic partnership has been announced to commercialize a DNA test for the early detection of colorectal cancer in the average-risk population.

Under their agreement, Laboratory Corporation of America Holdings (Burlington, NC, USA) will pay the developer of the test, Exact Sciences Corp. (Maynard, MA, USA), royalty fees and up to US$75 million in various payments for a five-year exclusive license, followed by a nonexclusive license for the life of the patents. Exact Sciences says there is no other DNA test currently available for the early detection of colorectal cancer in an average-risk population.

Called PreGen-Plus, the test works by isolating human DNA, shed in the colon every day and carried out of the body in stool, and by analyzing that DNA for mutations associated with colorectal cancer. PreGen-Plus is noninvasive and requires no dietary modification or bowel preparation. The process involves collecting a single stool sample and shipping the sample in a supplied container to a laboratory for analysis.

"We believe PreGen-Plus could be the most important molecular test identified to date for the millions of Americans who are candidates for colorectal cancer screening annually,” said Thomas P. MacMahon, chairman and CEO of LabCorp.




Related Links:
LabCorp
Exact Sciences