Oncodesign, a contract research laboratory dedicated to the discovery of new anticancer therapies, and Banook Central Imaging, a company specializing in the centralized reading of medical images, has started a partnership to expand the use of new approaches in pharmaco-imaging. The partners expect to share expertise, co-promote joint activities and jointly engage in scientific collaboration to standardize image acquisition and analysis protocols in early clinical phases.

The financial details of the agreement were not disclosed.

The various medical imaging procedures (computed tomography, magnetic resonance imaging, positron emission tomography, single-photon emission computed tomography and ultrasound imaging) have become indispensable tools in early-stage development of anticancer compounds. The information they provide about the disease and the effects of molecules is highly valuable in identifying translational markers in preclinical and clinical phases. The partnership between Oncodesign and Banook Central Imaging breaks new ground in the evaluation of anticancer therapies by helping to guide a compound from research laboratory to patient through the pursuit of greater consistency in the imaging protocols used during the development cycle, in accordance with good clinical practice. The first phase of this partnership will last three years. First results are expected by early 2014.

“Oncodesign leads the way in pharmaco-imaging. As well as conducting preclinical proofs of concept, we have a long tradition of striving to provide our clients with tools for improving the characterization of their molecule's therapeutic potential, to expedite clinical trials in humans,” said Philippe Genne, PhD, CEO and founder of Oncodesign. “In the coming weeks, our partnership with Banook Central Imaging will help us to provide our clients with practical solutions, ensuring that the measure of efficacy of anticancer therapies is attainable from one phase of development to the next.”
 
“It is crucial that the challenges of standardizing biomarkers in pharmaco-imaging are considered from the early phases of clinical development,” said Dr Pascal Voiriot, MSc, chairman of Banook Central Imaging. “Our partnership with Oncodesign is in line with our strategy which aims to implement relevant biomarkers in medical imaging, focusing ultimately on personalized medicine and the ability to produce a considerable time saving for the direct benefit of research laboratories and patients.”