|
Abbott expands companion Dx agreement with GSK to add test for additional investigational cancer immunotherapy
antig
11-29-2011
EDIT CONNECT
SHARING OPTIONS:
DES PLAINES, Ill.—Abbott
reports that it will expand its existing agreement with
GlaxoSmithKline
(GSK) to include the development of an
additional companion diagnostic test in support of GSK's cancer
immunotherapy research program.
The existing agreements between Abbott and
GlaxoSmithKline Biologicals S.A., announced in July
2009 and March 2010, focused on the development of polymerase chain
reaction (PCR) tests to
screen non-small cell lung cancer and melanoma
tumors for expression of the MAGE-A3 antigen. Under the expanded
agreement, Abbott will develop a PCR
test for use on the Abbott m2000rt instrument
to screen non-small cell lung cancer tumors for the expression of the
PRAME antigen. PRAME is a
preferentially expressed antigen of melanoma
that is expressed in 69 percent of non-small cell lung cancer cases, as
well as in a wide variety of
cancer types, including melanoma, breast,
ovarian, and bladder cancer, with limited expression in normal cells.
Abbott
's sees its development efforts in areas such as MAGE-A3 and PRAME as being among they keys to further building its leadership position in cancer
diagnostics and
personalized medicine.
"This expanded collaboration, along with Abbott's other recently
announced partnerships in oncology, demonstrates the continued
commitment Abbott is making to assess biomarkers linked to
immunotherapies in various
cancers," said Stafford O'Kelly, head of
Abbott's molecular diagnostics business. "This agreement is a testament
to the scientific advances Abbott
and the industry is making in
personalized medicine and companion diagnostics, which are helping
ensure the right medicines get to the right cancer
patients." GSK's antigen-specific cancer immunotherapy (ASCI) program is focused on a novel class of medicines designed
to train
the immune system to recognize and eliminate cancer cells in a highly
specific manner. These novel cancer immunotherapeutics combine tumor
antigens, delivered as purified recombinant proteins, and GSK's
proprietary Adjuvant Systems, which are specific combinations of
immunostimulating
compounds selected to increase the anti-tumor immune
response.
As GSK and Abbott note, ASCIs are being investigated in
the clinic to support their
use to reduce the risk of tumor recurrence following surgery, or to
impact tumor growth in an early metastatic setting. The
highly specific
mode of action of GSK's ASCIs is said to allow development of diagnostic tools to
aid in selecting patients eligible for the
treatment, depending on the
expression of the tumor antigens.
MAGE-A3 is a tumor-specific antigen that is expressed in
a large
variety of cancers, including melanoma, non-small cell lung, head and
neck, and bladder cancer, with no expression in normal cells. Expression
of the MAGE-A3 gene has been observed in testicular cells but without
antigen presentation capabilities. MAGE-A3 protein has been in-licensed
by
GSK from the Ludwig Institute for Cancer Research, reportedly the
largest
international academic institute dedicated to understanding and
controlling cancer.
SOURCE: GSK/Abbott news
release Code: E11281101 Back |
Home |
FAQs |
Search |
Submit News Release |
Site Map |
About Us |
Advertising |
Resources |
Contact Us |
Terms & Conditions |
Privacy Policy
|