Roche announced it is tapping Evotec's PhosphoScout platform to discover protein activity-based biomarkers that predict dosing and efficacy of targeted cancer drugs. Over the next three years Roche and Evotech will conduct "multiple biomarker programs for therapeutic antibodies or small molecule inhibitors," according to a release. The Swiss drug giant will be responsible for running clinical trials and developing companion diagnostics that result from the partnership. Evotec gets an up-front payment in addition to milestones, but financial details of the deal weren't disclosed.
"We are very pleased to collaborate with Evotec and benefit from the PhosphoScout technology to identify appropriate pharmacodynamics and patient stratification biomarkers," noted Roche's global oncology chief Mike Burgess in a statement. "These biomarkers are core to the development of targeted therapeutics for cancer therapy."
- here's the Roche release