Filter News

Biosite Incorporated And Oxford Genome Sciences Announce Collaboration In Colorectal Cancer

Published: Apr 04, 2006

SAN DIEGO and OXFORD, England, April 4 /PRNewswire-FirstCall/ -- Biosite(R) Incorporated and privately-held Oxford Genome Sciences (UK) Ltd. (OGeS) today announced a collaboration for the evaluation of protein-based disease markers for colorectal cancer. The markers could be used for the development of potential blood-based diagnostic products aimed at expanding personalized therapeutic options for colorectal cancer. In particular, these blood-based diagnostics would be designed to enable the early identification of colorectal cancer patients that have relapsed, thus enabling clinicians to select the most appropriate therapeutic option.

Today, the fecal occult blood test and colonoscopy, a highly invasive procedure, are the most frequently used screening and diagnostic methods for colorectal cancer, which has a 30 to 40 percent recurrence rate within an average of 18 months after primary diagnosis. (1,2,3,4)

OGeS has developed a database (the Oxford Genome Anatomy Project or OGAP(R)) that integrates genomic, proteomic and clinical information derived from blood and tissue studies for a large number of diseases. Under the terms of the collaboration, OGeS will identify at least 25 proteins discovered in blood and tissue samples from relapsing colorectal cancer patients and Biosite will have the rights to develop blood-based diagnostic tests using one or more of those biomarkers. Financial terms of the agreement were not disclosed.

"We are increasingly interested in studying selected areas of cancer that can benefit from rapid, effective, non-invasive diagnostic technologies," said Kim Blickenstaff, Biosite's chairman and chief executive officer. "This collaboration expands our research aimed at evaluation of diagnostic tools for relapsing colorectal cancer by providing us with access to high quality validation of potentially valuable protein biomarkers."

"Relapsing disease is the major cause of suffering and death in colorectal cancer patients and there is a complete lack of clinical tools to aid physicians in the process of deciding whom to treat when and whether to treat with chemotherapy," said Christian Rohlff, OGeS' chief executive officer. "This collaboration with Biosite underpins our corporate objective of applying new strategies to the emerging field of personalized medicine in oncology to improve patient outcomes."

More than 1 million Americans have colorectal cancer and more than 140,000 new cases are diagnosed each year. More than 55,000 people died from cancers of the colon/rectum in 2005. Estimated healthcare costs related to treatment for colorectal cancer in the United States are more than $8 billion.(5) Patients with a primary diagnosis of colorectal cancer are followed up on average every three to six months for the first three years and every six months for the next two years to assess recurrence.(6)

About Oxford Genome Sciences

Oxford Genome Sciences (OGeS) is focused on the development of personalised medicines, mainly for oncology indications. The Company has developed a unique integrated platform that combines genomic, proteomic and clinical information to accelerate the discovery and validation of drug targets and biomarkers in human beings. The benefits are improved biomarkers for patient selection, drug response and efficacy monitoring, and the integration of diagnostics into drug development and product launch, thereby facilitating more accurate drug development and providing cost and time savings.

OGeS' strategy is to enter into flexible strategic alliances to capture maximum value from its unique and integrated platform for the development of new therapeutics and diagnostics in the field of cancer. In parallel, the Company provides target and biomarker discovery and screening services to pharmaceutical and biotechnology companies providing OGeS with short-term revenues.

OGeS was formed in 2004 and is based near Oxford, UK. www.oxfordgenomesciences.com About OGAP(R)

OGAP holds the world's largest proprietary collection of proteins represented by the database, which contains over 1 million peptide sequences from 50 tissues and 60 disease states, mapped to approximately 15,000 genes and over 8 million single nucleotide polymorphism and haplotypes. The database can be customised for individual partners to support and enhance their preclinical and clinical drug development activities.

About Biosite Incorporated

Biosite Incorporated is a leading bio-medical company commercializing proteomics discoveries for the advancement of medical diagnosis. The Company's products contribute to improvements in medical care by aiding physicians in the diagnosis of critical diseases and health conditions. Biosite's Triage(R) rapid diagnostics are used in approximately 50 percent of U.S. hospitals and in more than 50 international markets. Information on Biosite can be found at www.biosite.com.

Except for the historical information presented herein, matters discussed in this press release are forward-looking statements that involve risks and uncertainties that could cause actual results to differ materially from any future results, performance or achievements expressed or implied by such statements. Statements that are not historical facts, including but not limited to statements that are preceded by, followed by, or that include the words "will"; "believes"; "should"; "intends"; "anticipates"; "plans"; "expects"; "estimates"; or similar statements are forward-looking statements. Forward looking statements include statements about the potential benefits of the collaboration to Biosite and Oxford Genome Sciences and Biosite's ability evaluate the diagnostic utility of the biomarker targets. In addition, there can be no guarantees that Biosite will develop any diagnostic product in the field of colorectal cancer or any other form of cancer. Even if Biosite believes it has initially developed such a product, Biosite may not be able to complete the development or obtain the regulatory approvals to commercialize the product. Risks that should be considered include risks and uncertainties regarding the discovery and product development process generally, risks associated with the introduction of competitive products from companies with greater capital and resources, uncertainties around the proprietary nature of the targets subject to the collaboration, and risks and expenses associated with litigation, contract disputes, patent conflicts, changes in reimbursement policies, regulatory changes, and the other risks detailed in Biosite's most recent Annual Report on Form 10-K, and other SEC filings. Biosite disclaims, any intent or obligation to update these forward-looking statements. Copies of Biosite's public disclosure filings are available from its investor relations department.

Biosite(R), Omniclonal(R), Triage(R) and New Dimensions in Diagnosis(R) are registered trademarks of Biosite Incorporated. The Company's logo is a trademark of Biosite Incorporated. OGAP(R) is a registered trade mark of Oxford Genome Sciences (UK) Ltd

(1) Desch, CE, Benson, III, AB, Somerfield, MR, Flynn, PJ, Krause, C, Loprinzi, CL, Minsky, BD, Pfister, DG, Virgo, KS, Petrelli , NJ. Colorectal Cancer Surveillance: 2005 Update of an American Society of Clinical Oncology Practice Guideline. Journal of Clinical Oncology, Vol 23, No 33 (November 20), 2005: pp. 8512-8519. (2) Guyot et al. Time trends in the treatment and survival of recurrences from colorectal cancer. Ann Oncol.2005; 16: 756-761 (3) Chuwa EW, Seow-Choen F. Outcomes for abdominoperineal resections are not worse than those of anterior resections. Dis Colon Rectum. 2006 Jan;49(1):41-9. (4) Incidence and Prevalence Database, 2005. (5) Cancer Trends Progress Report - 2005 Update, National Cancer Institute, NIH, DHHS, Bethesda, MD, December 2005, http://progressreport.cancer.gov. (6) Desch CE et al. Colorectal Cancer Surveillance: 2005 Update of an American Society of Clinical Oncology Practice Guideline. Journal of Clinical Oncology. November 20, 2005;23(33): 8512-8519.

Biosite Incorporated; Oxford Genome Sciences (UK) Ltd

CONTACT: Nadine Padilla, VP, Corporate & Investor Relations,+1-858-805-2820, npadilla@biosite.com, or Nicole Beckstrand, Manager,Public Relations, +1-858-805-2803, nbeckstrand@biosite.com, both of BiositeIncorporated; or Christian Rohlff, Chief Executive Officer of Oxford GenomeSciences (UK) Ltd, +44 (0) 1235 861770,christian.rohlff@oxfordgenomesciences.com; or David Dible, or ValerieAuffray, valerie.auffray@citigatedr.co.uk, both of Citigate Dewe Rogerson,+44 (0)207 638 9571, for Oxford Genome Sciences

Back to news