Asuragen Enters Oncology Collaboration with Merck to Develop Pharmacogenomic Tests.AUSTIN, Texas -- Asuragen Pharmacogenomic Services, a division of Asuragen, Inc. (Austin, Texas), has entered into a research collaboration with Merck & Co., Inc. to develop a biomarker and pharmacogenomic test for cancer clinical trials. Under the terms of the agreement, Asuragen will apply the information gained from an expression signature identified by Merck's oncology research program to the development of a diagnostic assay for use in Merck's cancer clinical trials and to potentially form the basis for commercial companion diagnostic tests for oncology therapies. Asuragen will receive an undisclosed payment for the development of the test, which is expected to be completed in 2008. Upon completion of assay development and validation, Asuragen will be eligible for additional payments associated with successful transfer of the diagnostic assays to clinical reference laboratories. "Asuragen's business model of providing GLP See gateway location protocol. molecular biology molecular biology, scientific study of the molecular basis of life processes, including cellular respiration, excretion, and reproduction. The term molecular biology was coined in 1938 by Warren Weaver, then director of the natural sciences program at the Rockefeller services, CLIA CLIA Clinical Laboratory Improvement Amendments of 1988 Congressional legislation that promulgated quality assurance practices in clinical labs, and required them to measure performance at each step of the testing process from the beginning to the end-point of a testing capabilities, and GMP GMP (guanosine monophosphate): see guanine. diagnostic assay development and manufacture is uniquely suited to collaborate with pharmaceutical partners in the clinical validation of drugs in development and the potential future companion diagnostic tests," said Matt Winkler Winkler may refer to:
About Asuragen: Asuragen is a molecular biology service provider and fully integrated diagnostic reagent company focused on molecular oncology and early detection of cancer, with emphasis on miRNA. The Asuragen Pharmacogenomic Services Division provides a comprehensive range of molecular services empowering commercial and academic scientists to rapidly acquire a wide range of molecular data. Asuragen's rich legacy in RNA RNA: see nucleic acid. RNA in full ribonucleic acid One of the two main types of nucleic acid (the other being DNA), which functions in cellular protein synthesis in all living cells and replaces DNA as the carrier of genetic serves as a focal point focal point n. See focus. for all of its services, including Gene Expression Profiling, miRNA Expression Profiling, data analysis and bioinformatics support, and nucleic acid nucleic acid, any of a group of organic substances found in the chromosomes of living cells and viruses that play a central role in the storage and replication of hereditary information and in the expression of this information through protein synthesis. isolation. Asuragen's cGLP services are suitable for clinical research studies, pharmacogenomics, and biomarker discovery. Asuragen also provides a high level of expertise in assay development, a well developed business infrastructure, and an established cGMP manufacturing facility that allow it to span the spectrum of discovery, testing, production, and commercialization. Asuragen is dedicated to developing new technologies that will lead to cutting edge clinical products. |
|
||||||||||||||
Printer friendly
Cite/link
Email
Feedback
Reader Opinion