EANS-News: Epigenomics AG Licenses Biomarker for Colorectal Cancer Blood Test to ARUP Laboratories
ARUP to commercialize laboratory-developed blood test based on
Epigenomics' mSEPT9 biomarker to aid in the early detection of colorectal cancer
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companies/cooperations/Molecular diagnostics
Press Release, Berlin, Germany and Seattle, WA, U.S.A., August 12, 2009 (euro adhoc) - Epigenomics AG (Frankfurt, Prime Standard: ECX), a cancer molecular diagnostics company, today announced that it signed a non-exclusive licensing agreement for its proprietary DNA methylation biomarker Septin 9 (mSEPT9) with Salt Lake City, Utah, U.S. based ARUP Laboratories, Inc. (ARUP), a leading provider of diagnostic testing services. Under the agreement, ARUP has obtained rights to use the mSEPT9 biomarker to develop a molecular-based laboratory test that can help physicians detect colorectal cancer based on a patient's blood sample. Colorectal cancer is the second leading cause of cancer-related deaths in the U.S. Epigenomics has repeatedly demonstrated that methylated DNA of the Septin 9 gene in blood plasma indicates the presence of colorectal cancer in early stages.
"Having a simple blood test that can detect colorectal cancer will be a major step in the fight against this dreadful disease, which is often curable when caught in the early stages," said Ronald L. Weiss, MD, MBA, ARUP Executive Vice President of Health Policy, External Affairs, and Corporate Communication. "Patient compliance in the U.S with current colorectal cancer screening guidelines leaves a lot to be desired. All too often, patients fail to undergo a colonoscopy or conduct other types of colorectal cancer screenings because they find these methods invasive, unpleasant or costly. A blood test for detecting colorectal cancer, will be a convenient option that complements other screening methods."
ARUP (www.aruplab.com) is the second commercial laboratory in the U.S.A. to non- exclusively license the mSEPT9 biomarker from Epigenomics with the goal of commercializing a laboratory-developed blood test.
"ARUP is an ideal second laboratory partner to use our mSEPT9 biomarker technology to commercialize a laboratory-developed test for detecting colorectal cancer," said Geert Nygaard, Chief Executive Officer of Epigenomics AG. "We selected ARUP because they have a record of innovation in molecular diagnostics. They also share our objective of developing tests that will help physicians to improve the health outcomes for their patients through accurate detection of early-stage colorectal cancer. With today's licensing agreement we continue to execute on our non-exclusive commercialization strategy for our colorectal cancer biomarker. The agreement with ARUP for the commercialization of a laboratory-developed test for mSEPT9 complements our current agreements with Quest Diagnostics for an mSEPT9-based laboratory developed test, Abbott Molecular, who obtained the non-exclusive rights to commercialize IVD test kit products based on mSEPT9, as well as Sysmex" explained Mr. Nygaard.
About Epigenomics
Epigenomics is a molecular diagnostics company with a focus on the development of novel products for cancer. Using DNA methylation biomarkers, Epigenomics' tests in development aim at diagnosing cancer at an early stage before symptoms occur and thereby may reduce mortality from this dreaded disease. Epigenomics' product pipeline contains a validated biomarker for the early detection of colorectal cancer in blood plasma, and further proprietary DNA methylation biomarkers at various stages of development for prostate and lung cancer detection in urine, blood and bronchial lavage specimens. Epigenomics' biomarker mSEPT9 for the early detection of colorectal cancer in a simple blood sample has demonstrated continuously highest performance in multiple clinical studies with in total more than 3,500 individuals tested. A large prospective clinical study - PRESEPT - for evaluation of mSEPT9 in a screening population is currently under way (www.presept.net).
For development and global commercialization of in vitro diagnostic test products, Epigenomics pursues a non-exclusive partnering strategy. Strategic diagnostics industry partners include Abbott Molecular, Philips, Sysmex Corporation, Quest Diagnostics Incorporated, and ARUP Laboratories, Inc. for diagnostics test products and services, and QIAGEN N.V. for sample preparation solutions and research products.
Partners in the health care industry and the biomedical research community can access Epigenomics' portfolio of proprietary DNA methylation technologies and biomarkers protected by more than 150 patent families through research products, Biomarker Services, IVD Development Collaborations, and Licensing. The company is headquartered in Berlin, Germany, and has a wholly owned subsidiary in Seattle, WA, U.S.A. For more information, please visit Epigenomics' website at www.epigenomics.com.
Epigenomics legal disclaimers. This communication expressly or implicitly contains certain forward-looking statements concerning Epigenomics AG and its business. Such statements involve certain known and unknown risks, uncertainties and other factors which could cause the actual results, financial condition, performance or achievements of Epigenomics AG to be materially different from any future results, performance or achievements expressed or implied by such forward-looking statements. Epigenomics AG is providing this communication as of this date and does not undertake to update any forward- looking statements contained herein as a result of new information, future events or otherwise.
The information contained in this communication does not constitute nor imply an offer to sell or transfer any product, and no product based on this technology is currently available for sale in the United States. The analytical and clinical performance characteristics of any product based on this technology which may be sold at some future time in the U.S. have not been established.
end of announcement euro adhoc
Further inquiry note:
Epigenomics AG
Dr. Achim Plum
Sen. VP Corporate Development
Tel: +49 30 24345 368
achim.plum@epigenomics.com
Branche: Biotechnology
ISIN: DE000A0BVT96
WKN: A0BVT9
Index: Prime All Share, Technologie All Share
Börsen: Frankfurt / regulated dealing/prime standard
Berlin / free trade
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München / free trade