Epigenomics announced the signing of a collaboration with AstraZeneca. In the project, Epigenomics will identify DNA methylation markers from clinical tumour samples embedded in paraffin for use in AstraZeneca’s cancer drug discovery and development programme. DNA methylation is a genetic switch for gene activity that occurs in distinct patterns in cells specific for cancer and other diseases. The biomarkers discovered in this process may become part of AstraZeneca’s strategy for targeting drugs such as IRESSA, the selective epidermal growth factor receptor tyrosine kinase inhibitor.
In this project, AstraZeneca will provide clinical tumour samples embedded in paraffin. Epigenomics will use its proprietary DNA methylation microarray technology to identify biomarkers and demonstrate the usefulness of its pharmacodiagnostic marker development on paraffin embedded samples. Financial details of the project were not disclosed.
“We are proud that AstraZeneca sees the value of our unique pharmacodiagnostics approach”, states Christian Piepenbrock, CIO of Epigenomics and head of its Pharma Technology business unit. “Our DNA methylation techniques can measure markers from fixed tissue samples. This allows us to develop biomarkers from many past or future cancer trials and build tests to accompany drugs for patient selection. We are aiming at personalizing medicine with Epigenomics tests that tell patients whether they might benefit from drug treatment or not.”
Les Hughes, Global VP, Cancer and Infection Discovery, for AstraZeneca adds, “In the short term, the focus will be on Iressa. However, in the new era of biologically targeted therapies, we anticipate that many more drugs will be accompanied by a predictive test to help identify which patients will benefit most from a specific therapy. As a leader in cancer research, we want to investigate opportunities to develop the tests that will help ensure patients get the medicines, which will provide the greatest benefit. Epigenomics provides a technology platform which may help us identify predictive markers that could lead to the development of such a test.”