New In Vitro Diagnostics Company Formed

The formation of a wholly-owned subsidiary that will focus on developing and commercializing proprietary in vitro diagnostics has been announced by Panacea Pharmaceuticals, Inc. (Gaithersburg, MD, USA).

The new company, called Proteus Diagnostics, Inc. (also in Gaithersburg) will develop diagnostic products for cancer detection, diagnosis, prognosis, treatment, and follow-up. These products will be based on the enzyme human aspartyl (asparaginyl) beta-hydroxylase, or HAAH. Panacea obtained exclusive worldwide rights to all therapeutic and diagnostics uses of HAAH through license and collaborative research agreements with Rhode Island/Brown University (USA).

HAAH overexpression has been detected in more than 99% of nearly 1,000 human tumor specimens from all 18 cancers tested to date and has not been detected in normal or unaffected, adjacent tissue. Studies have indicated that overexpression of HAAH induces cellular transformation, increases cell motility and invasiveness, and causes tumor formation in experimental animals. Even partial inhibition of HAAH expression by antisense or antibodies appears to have a beneficial effect on tumor cells both in vitro and in vivo, causing them to revert to a more normal phenotype.

Panacea has already developed several in vitro methods for detecting and quantifying HAAH in tissues and bodily fluids. The diagnostic methods that have been developed include primary tests such as immunohistochemistry, immunocytochemistry, and enzyme-linked immunosorbent assay (ELISA). Secondary or confirming tests include Western blot and sandwich ELISA.

"Diagnostic products and services are playing an increasingly critical and prominent role in oncology from primary screening to long-term follow-up after treatment,” said Kasra Ghanbari, president of Panacea.


Proteus Diagnostics


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