Myriad Genetics, Inc., a leading biopharmaceutical company, and Abbott Laboratories, Inc. have expanded their strategic alliance to include a broad new pharmacogenetics programme. The research collaboration will focus on identifying genetic variation within the general population around drug targets in various stages of development. Abbott will fund all research under this collaboration and will retain sole ownership of the results. Myriad will receive first right on personalized medicine products for reference lab uses that result from the collaboration.

Myriad will use its high-throughput sequencing technologies and proprietary mutation screening software to analyze samples from various populations to identify genetic polymorphisms, or differences in the DNA between individuals. The results of this collaboration may help Abbott's drug discovery programmes develop drugs that will be the most effective for the widest range of patients.

"We are pleased to expand our successful relationship with Abbott into pharmacogenetics, an area in which Myriad can bring to bear its proprietary technologies," said Peter Meldrum, president and CEO of Myriad Genetics, Inc. "There is significant potential through this collaboration to develop new personalized medicine products in areas of important and growing healthcare needs."

"Abbott is pleased with the success of its research alliance with Myriad, including the isolation of a major gene linked to depression," said Brian Spear, director of Pharmacogenomics, Abbott Laboratories. "Myriad's technology and expertise are valuable to Abbott's drug discovery and development efforts in areas of significant unmet medical need such as depression, obesity and diabetes."

Pharmacogenetics is the application of the knowledge of genetic diversity for the improvement of the specificity, safety and efficacy of therapeutics. The science of pharmacogenetics holds the promise of delivering personalized medicine products that respond to an established genetic profile for specific individuals. Knowing an individual's likely reaction to a drug in advance may decrease the occurrence of adverse effects while improving the drug's effectiveness, potentially leading to better outcomes and lower overall healthcare costs. Pharmacogenetics may also identify individuals who have a known disease genotype and might benefit from therapeutic intervention prior to the onset of symptoms of the disease.