AstraZeneca has selected Iconix to provide advanced chemogenomic profiling and analytical services for a specific cancer drug discovery programme, using Iconix's reference database and predictive biomarkers.

According to the pact, AstraZeneca will apply Iconix's chemogenomics platform to found in specific drug programs. AstraZeneca is also seeking to identify genomic biomarkers that can be used as counterscreens in short-term studies. These biomarkers would be designed to predict the onset of specific toxicologies and would facilitate the development of follow-up compounds and, potentially, drug response monitoring in clinical testing.

Iconix will utilize biomarkers of drug pathology and mechanism from its Drug Signatures library, the collection of predictive biomarkers, for the profiling of AstraZeneca's compounds. Drug Signatures are derived by Iconix from its DrugMatrix platform, a chemogenomics reference database and informatics system.

"We're especially pleased to be working with AstraZeneca because the work focuses on two areas of chemogenomics technology that can provide benefits - predictive toxicology and understanding the mechanisms of toxicology," said Jim Neal, Iconix's CEO.