OncoMethylome Sciences to Collaborate with GlaxoSmithKline Biologicals for Personalized Cancer Treatment
LIEGE, Belgium, November 26, 2007 - OncoMethylome Sciences announced today that it has entered into a collaboration with GlaxoSmithKline (GSK) Biologicals. The goal of the collaboration is to develop DNA methylation biomarkers for use in the personalization of cancer treatment with certain immunotherapeutics in development by GSK Biologicals.
"We look forward to using our high-throughput platform to efficiently test our portfolio of methylation biomarkers on clinical samples provided by GSK Biologicals. We are pleased that GSK Biologicals has chosen OncoMethylome for this collaboration" commented Dr. Jim DiGuiseppi, Chief Technology Officer of OncoMethylome.
The collaboration is supported by a Wallonia (BioWin) research grant that was announced in April of this year. Further financial details of the agreement were not disclosed.
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., 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 Lucija.Turcinov@oncomethylome.com or visit: www.oncomethylome.com
Posted: November 2007
