Triesta Sciences (India) Private Ltd., engaged in the development of molecular biomarkers for oncology and infectious diseases, has chalked out an expansion plan for setting up a micro array lab at an investment of Rs 45 lakh, in association with a US company. The lab is likely to be commissioned during 2005-end.

The Triesta team is currently engaged in developing a biomarker to predict the response to Anthracycline for breast cancer treatment. Molecular biomarkers provide accurate prognosis, predict response, resistance and toxicity to treatment. The research, which began an year ago, will be complete by mid-2006. The findings are expected to allow faster diagnosis in breast cancer. The novel biomarker, which would be developed into a diagnostic test, would aid in the management of breast cancer.
  
Another development at the company is extraction of RNA (ribo nucleic acid) from Formalin Fixed tissue. In fact it is one of the few centres in the world and the only one in the country, which has method of Formalin Fixed Paraffin Embedded (FFPE) blocks for gene expression analysis. “Our method is superior to publicly known methods for quantitative gene expression studies using Taqman platform,” Dr. Swaminathan Subramaniam, director, Triesta Sciences told Pharmabiz.

“This study to identify archival specimens for RNA expression profiling to confirm prognostic markers in breast cancer would facilitate the development of the next generation of molecular diagnostic tests that will improve clinical care of patients with breast cancer,” he said.

The company also serves several multi national companies in the clinical trial space. It has sponsored research studies across leading national institutions to enrol new breast cancer patients.

The company, which was incepted in 2003 in Bangalore at an investment of $1 million, has a state-of-the-art laboratory at the Institute of Population Health and Clinical Research, St. John’s Hospital. The main funding came in from IL&FS and the remaining from the promoters and angle investors. The facility undertakes advanced studies in oncology molecular biomarkers to assess the patient response to treatment and analyse the best choice of treatment apart from disease progression, prognosis and response to chemotherapy regimens.

Triesta is the only contract research organisation (CRO) with presence in the biomarker space. In addition to patient therapy, the company was also targeting therapies where clinical trials are conducted using biomarkers to decide on dosing and efficacy of drugs.