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Astrid Fiano, DOTmed News Writer | February 27, 2009
Epigenomics AG, a cancer molecular diagnostics company, has entered into a non-exclusive licensing agreement for its proprietary biomarker mGSTP1 with Quest Diagnostics Incorporated out of Madison, NJ, a major provider of diagnostic testing, information and services.
According to a press release on Epigenomics' web site, in the agreement Quest Diagnostics has obtained rights to uses of the GSTP1 DNA methylation biomarker (mGSTP1). The use is to establish and commercialize a molecular-based laboratory-developed test to help diagnose prostate cancer based on testing of a patient's tissue specimen.
Prostate cancer is the leading cause of cancer death in men in the U.S., with more than 230,000 cases diagnosed annually. Epigenomics says that it and other companies have demonstrated that methylated DNA of the GSTP1 gene in tissue may indicate the presence of prostate cancer. "A test that detects the DNA methylation of the gene GSTP1 in tissue biopsies in combination with conventional histopathology may augment the accuracy of prostate cancer diagnosis in particular in cases with suspicious but inconclusive histology findings or patients with elevated PSA but repeatedly negative biopsies," the company states.
Quest Diagnostics has experience in DNA methylation diagnostics including tests for Prader-Willi and Angelman Syndromes, both of which may be caused by faulty DNA methylation. Epigenomics says that Quest Diagnostics licensed rights to use Epigenomics' proprietary colorectal cancer biomarker mSEPT9 in 2008 in order to develop and validate a test as an aid in the detection of colorectal cancer.
"We are pleased that Quest Diagnostics is expanding its menu of DNA methylation tests using our technologies and biomarkers. Quest Diagnostics has a strong record of innovation in diagnostics, including development of other DNA methylation diagnostic tests. They also share our goal to develop technologies that will help physicians achieve improved health outcomes for their patients through better diagnosis of prostate cancer and early detection of colorectal cancer", said Geert Nygaard, Chief Executive Officer of Epigenomics.
Adapted from a press release by Epigenomics.
