Irvine, CA-based OvaGene Oncology has negotiated license agreements with two Norwegian research organizations for biomarker-related IP that it aims to develop into clinical laboratory tests to identify high-risk endometrial cancer patients and predict chemoradiation resistance in cervical cancer. IP licensed from the University of Bergen’s TTO encompasses a set of markers that OvaGene believes can indicate which early-stage endometrial cancer patients may require chemotherapy in addition to surgery. Biomarkers licensed from the Oslo-based TTO Medinnova will allow cervical cancer patients to be tested for chemoradiation resistance before treatments begin, according to OvaGene. The firm is working to validate the tests and will offer them through its newly established OvaGene CLIA lab during the next 12 to 18 months.

The endometrial cancer molecular markers “will allow us to better define who should be offered additional therapy” and may provide new insights into the role of P13K inhibitor drugs, says Neil Finkler, MD, OvaGene’s CMO. The company believes the cervical cancer assay will help clinicians decide whether a patient will respond to platinum-based treatments used as standard in combination with radiation therapy against stage IB2 to IV disease. “Knowing which cervical cancer patients will not respond to this standard treatment before starting therapy would allow the clinician the opportunity to offer alternative drug therapy up front rather than at time of recurrence,” says Bill Ricketts, PhD, OvaGene’s CSO.

Source: Genetic Engineering & Biotechnology News

Posted July 21st, 2010 under Tech Transfer

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