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Abbott to Collaborate With Genentech, Roche and OSI on Molecular Test for Lung Cancer Therapy Response
Abbott's FISH Technology Provides Analytical Tool with Potential to Assess Clinical Response to Lung Cancer Treatment in Patients with Non-Small-Cell Lung Cancer
11 Mar 2008 -
Abbott announced that its molecular diagnostics business has entered into an agreement with Genentech, Inc., F. Hoffmann-La Roche Ltd. and OSI Pharmaceuticals, Inc. to develop a gene test to potentially assess the clinical benefit of Tarceva(R) (erlotinib), an oral tablet indicated for the treatment of patients with locally advanced or metastatic non-small cell lung cancer (NSCLC) after failure of at least one prior chemotherapy regimen.
Under the agreement, Abbott will develop a test to detect extra copies of the epidermal growth factor receptor (EGFR) gene using its proprietary fluorescence in situ hybridization (FISH) technology in NSCLC. Financial terms of the agreement were not disclosed.
Currently, there are no nucleic acid based tests validated or approved by the U.S. Food and Drug Administration that could identify patients who may derive greater treatment benefits from targeted lung cancer therapies.
"By helping to unlock the information found at the molecular level in each person's DNA, we believe that molecular diagnostics hold the promise of personalized medicine," said Stafford O'Kelly, vice president, molecular diagnostics, Abbott. "Our goal through this important technology is to improve the practice of medicine by helping to reduce risk, produce targeted cures, and improve the detection and prevention of serious illnesses."
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