OncoMethylome Sciences To Profile DNA For Abbott Oncology Compounds
Luik, Belgium, Dec 17, 2007 -- Liege (Belgium) - December 17, 2007, 8:00am CET - OncoMethylome Sciences entered into a pharmacogenomic service collaboration with Abbott. Under the terms of the collaboration, OncoMethylome will assist Abbott in profiling tumors. Specifically, OncoMethylome will be testing its DNA methylation biomarkers on Abbott's biological samples.
"We are very pleased to add this collaboration to existing similar agreements and to use our high-throughput methylation platform to efficiently test our methylation biomarkers on biological samples provided by Abbott", commented Dr. Jim DiGuiseppi, Chief Technology Officer of OncoMethylome. "We are pleased that Abbott has chosen OncoMethylome and our methylation technology for this collaboration"
Financial details of the agreement were not disclosed.
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About Methylation and Methylation Biomarkers Methylation is a natural control mechanism that regulates gene expression in DNA. Abnormal methylation of certain genes can silence gene expression and is associated with cancer development and response to cancer therapy. Genes whose methylation is linked to cancer are often called methylation biomarkers. Methylation biomarkers intended for use in companion diagnostics are associated with response to cancer drug therapy. OncoMethylome owns proprietary technology that is highly sensitive and capable detecting methylation biomarkers, and is also very suitable for testing these markers in a high-throughput manner on clinical samples.
About OncoMethylome Sciences OncoMethylome Sciences (Euronext Brussels: ONCOB; Euronext Amsterdam: ONCOA) is a molecular diagnostics company developing gene methylation tests to assist physicians in effectively detecting and treating cancer. Specifically, the company's tests are designed to help the physician (i) accurately detect cancer in early stages of cancer development, (ii) predict a patient's response to drug therapy, and (iii) predict the likelihood of cancer recurrence.
OncoMethylome boasts a broad product development pipeline consisting of ten products and a solid partnering record. The company collaborates with leading international molecular oncology research centers, such as The Johns Hopkins University, and has a number of commercial and collaborative partnerships with Veridex LLC, a Johnson & Johnson company, Schering-Plough Corp., GlaxoSmithKline Biologicals, Millipore Corporation's BioScience Division, and EXACT Sciences Corp. OncoMethylome's products are based on methylation technology invented by Johns Hopkins University (USA).
Established in January 2003, OncoMethylome has offices in Liege and Leuven (Belgium), in Durham, NC (USA), and in Amsterdam (the Netherlands).
For more information please contact: Lucija Turcinov Tel. +32-479-801-902 [email protected] or visit: www.oncomethylome.com