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Boehringer Ingelheim and DxS sign an agreement for a companion diagnostic to
identify EGFR mutations in patients with lung cancer
Manchester, UK and Ingelheim, Germany - 29 May 2009, DxS, a personalised
medicine company, and Boehringer Ingelheim, a global group of pharmaceutical
companies, headquartered in Germany, have entered into an agreement to provide a
companion diagnostic test kit for Boehringer Ingelheim’s compound BIBW 2992 (Tovok™)
to identify mutations of the EGFR (epidermal growth factor receptor) in patients
with non small cell lung cancer. Financial terms of the agreement are not
disclosed.
Clinical data published to date suggest that BIBW 2992 offers a marked increase
in efficacy in comparison to standard treatments, for lung cancer patients
carrying mutations in the EGFR gene. Under the terms of the agreement, DxS and
Boehringer Ingelheim will work jointly to make a suitable companion diagnostic
test kit globally available.
BIBW 2992 is a novel tyrosine kinase inhibitor that acts by irreversibly
blocking the EGFR /HER2 receptors, which are promoters of tumour growth. As with
other tyrosine kinase inhibitor therapies, patients with mutations in the EGFR
gene will be more likely to respond to a medication that targets these
receptors, thereby allowing doctors to prescribe the most effective and
individual treatment. Furthermore BIBW 2992 has demonstrated preclinical
activity against erlotinib and gefitinib resistant mutations. With this
approach, Boehringer Ingelheim is among the few companies advancing molecules of
their pipeline within the area of personalised medicine.
The DxS EGFR companion diagnostic is a real-time PCR assay, designed to detect
the most common mutations in the EGFR gene. The diagnostic has been developed
and manufactured at DxS’ head office in Manchester, UK. and will be available
later in the summer for Boehringer Ingelheim’s global, multi-centre Phase III
clinical trial for BIBW 2992.
Commenting on this announcement, Dr Stephen Little, CEO of DxS says “This is
another great endorsement of our companion diagnostic assays for predicting
patient response to targeted therapies. It is an exciting step forward for
personalised medicine and DxS is pleased to be at the forefront of this
revolution in cancer treatment”.
“As this year’s theme at ASCO highlights, it is very likely that personalised
medicine will play an important role in selecting the most effective treatment
for patients with cancer. We are convinced that the collaboration agreement with
DxS can expedite our efforts in the field of personalised medicine. And both
companies are excited to investigate how molecular diagnostics can support
patient selection and help to maximise treatment outcome with our medication”,
said Dr Manfred Haehl, Corporate Senior Vice President Medicine of Boehringer
Ingelheim.
-ends-
About Boehringer Ingelheim
The Boehringer Ingelheim group is one of the world’s 20 leading pharmaceutical
companies. Headquartered in Ingelheim, Germany, it operates globally with 138
affiliates in 47 countries and 41,300 employees. Since it was founded in 1885,
the independent, family-owned company has been committed to researching,
developing, manufacturing and marketing novel products of high therapeutic value
for human and veterinary medicine.
In 2008, Boehringer Ingelheim posted net sales of 11.6 billion euro while
spending one fifth of net sales in its largest business segment Prescription
Medicines on research and development.
For more information please visit
www.boehringer-ingelheim.com
About DxS
DxS is a personalised medicine company providing molecular diagnostics to aid
doctors and drug companies in selecting therapies for patients. Working in
partnership with pharmaceutical companies to support the development and sales
of targeted cancer therapies by providing biomarkers and companion diagnostics.
DxS has a continually expanding portfolio of cancer mutation products. The
TheraScreen® range of CE-marked clinical diagnostic kits can identify genetic
tumour mutations that affect how patients respond to cancer therapies, thus
enabling doctors to provide the most beneficial treatment. DxS produce two
clinical diagnostic kits, K-RAS and EGFR-29.
The TheraScreen: K-RAS Mutation kit is a companion diagnostic for Vectibix®
(Amgen) and Erbitux® (Merck KGaA) for the treatment of colorectal cancer. DxS
has an exclusive global distribution agreement with Roche Diagnostics for the
distribution of the TheraScreen: K-RAS and TheraScreen: EGFR29 Mutation kits.
DxS’ pioneering real-time PCR technology Scorpions® is highly regarded for its
proven speed and sensitivity, and is combined with ARMS (allele specific PCR) to
develop each unique DxS product. This class-leading technology is also available
for licence to diagnostic companies, for research, or for other varied
applications.
DxS is a private, venture capital-backed company operating from the heart of
Manchester’s Technology Quarter in the UK.
For further information please visit
www.dxsdiagnostics.com.
Contacts
Boehringer Ingelheim GmbH
Julia Meyer-Kleinmann
Head Science & Technology Communications
55216 Ingelheim/Germany
Phone: + 49 - 6132 – 77 8271
Fax: + 49 - 6132 – 77 7077
press@boehringer-ingelheim.com
College Hill Life Sciences
Sue Charles, Tony Stephenson,
Dr John McIntyre
+44 (0)20 7866 7864
DxS@collegehill.com
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