Dako and Amgen Collaborate to Develop New Diagnostic Test

Dako (Glostrup, Denmark), an Agilent company and a worldwide provider of cancer diagnostics, has announced a new project with Amgen (Thousand Oaks, CA, USA) to develop a molecular diagnostic test using Dako’s IQFISH hybridization buffer.

The IQFISH hybridization buffer, introduced by Dako in 2012, reduces diagnostic test turnaround time from 17 hours to 3.5 hours. It enables pathology labs to run DNA-based hybridization assays quickly, with distinct and higher fluorescent signal intensity compared to traditional fluorescence in situ hybridization (FISH) assays. This ability represents a major advance for pathologists, oncologists, and ultimately patients.

"We are pleased to continue our work with Amgen, particularly within the molecular arena," said Jacob Thaysen, vice president and general manager for Agilent's Diagnostics and Genomics business. “We are excited to expand this collaboration into even more projects.”

An IQFISH assay already developed is the HER2 IQFISH pharmDx, which is indicated as an aid in the assessment of patients for whom Herceptin treatment is being considered. Results from the HER2 IQFISH pharmDx are intended for use as an adjunct to the information currently used for estimating prognosis in stage II, node-positive breast cancer patients.

Dako is a global leader in tissue-based cancer diagnostics. Hospital and research laboratories use Dako’s reagents, instruments, software, and expertise to make accurate diagnoses and determine the most effective treatment for cancer patients.

Amgen is an American multinational biopharmaceutic company headquartered in the Conejo Valley (CA, USA). Amgen is an independent biotechnology firm.

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