Physicians in Asia will soon be able to know whether they should prescribe tamoxifen for breast cancer patients, as Estrocept Diagnostics Inc, US is planning to license out its EstroJen Tamoxifen Diagnostic Test Kit (ETRDK) for Indian and other Asian pharma companies.

With the help of a simple laboratory test using the kit, physicians will be able to quickly identify patients for whom tamoxifen is likely to work. Tamoxifen is one among the best available breast cancer drugs that blocks breast tumour growth in most patients. However, the drug is not receptive in the case of some patients. Tamoxifen has long term side effects, in particular, an increase in the incidence of endometrial cancer, and thus it is important to limit its dosing to only those women most likely to receive benefit from the drug. This causes physicians an apprehension in prescribing the drug, sources told Pharmabiz.

Dr Elwood Jensen, the 2004 Lasker Award winner for the discovery of the estrogen receptor and a respected American cancer researcher, first developed the kit in 1983. It was commercially made available by Abbot Laboratories, US. With the expiry of the licensing period, Estrocept Diagnostics Inc, mainly promoted by Dr. Jensen, is commercialising the product worldwide with further research and fine-tuning for more accuracy. The kit is expected to be available in India by the first quarter of 2006.

The EstroJen Tamoxefin Diagnostic Test Kit uses monoclonal antibodies created from a cell line developed by Dr. Jensen, and continues to be the standard for tamoxifen susceptibility testing. The US company would provide interested pharma companies with both the proprietary monoclonal antibodies and the complete TDTK kit technology to commercialise the product. Estrocept Diagnostics is currently on the lookout for interested pharma companies to commercialise the technology in India and other SAARC countries, initially and then in other Asian countries and Australia, said Dr. Abha Shende, director (sales), Asia, Estrocept Diagnostics Inc.

Sources said the Gold Standard EstroJen Tamoxifen Diagnostic Test Kit would give physicians a sharper picture of the most effective treatment to prescribe for breast cancer. It also gives patients a life-saving weapon in breast cancer fight.

"This new technology provides more evidence that women with a moderately elevated risk of developing breast cancer can significantly reduce their risk by undergoing this diagnostic test. This gives patients more information earlier. This test will save lives by giving physicians a clear idea of when tamoxifen will and will not work and how to begin more appropriate cancer treatment faster," said sources.