OncoMethylome Sciences to Collaborate with GlaxoSmithKline
Biologicals for Personalized Cancer Treatment
Liege (Belgium) - November 26, 2007, 8:00am CET - 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.
To download this press release as a PDF, click here: Press Release
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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
