28th Jul 2014 07:48
LONDON (Alliance News) - AstraZeneca PLC said Monday it is working with Roche Holding AG and QIAGEN NV to develop companion diagnostic tests to support its portfolio of lung cancer medicines.
The pharmaceutical giant said it was working with QIAGEN to develop a test that analyses DNA from a patient's tumour circulating in their blood to identify non-small cell lung cancer for patients whose tumours have the EGFR mutation and may be able to be treated with IRESSA.
It will work with Roche on a similar test to support the development of its non-small cell lung cancer medicine AZD9291.
The company said the blood-based tests it is developing represent an important step forward in personalised healthcare, as it will allow doctors to determine if the tumour has a EGFR mutation when a tissue biopsy is not available for testing.
"Diagnostic tests are an integral part of delivering effective personalised healthcare. By combining our skills with those of diagnostic partners like Roche and QIAGEN, we can push scientific boundaries to pioneer and develop a broad range of companion diagnostics across our therapy areas, in order to deliver the most effective, life-changing medicines to patients," said Ruth March, AstraZeneca's vice president of personalised healthcare and biomarkers in a statement.
No financial details of the collaborations were disclosed.
Shares in AstraZeneca were trading unchanged at 4,392.00 pence Monday morning.
By Hana Stewart-Smith; [email protected]; @HanaSSAllNews
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