Epigenomics AG (Frankfurt, Prime Standard: ECX), a molecular diagnostics company developing tests based on DNA methylation, announced today that they have reached agreement with Roche Diagnostics to postpone the milestone and licensing decision that was originally envisaged for November 2005 until the end of January 2006. Until then, Roche Diagnostics continues to have an option to obtain world wide exclusive rights to the breast cancer relapse prediction (Tamoxifen) / breast cancer molecular classification test from Epigenomics for an undisclosed milestone payment.
Significant amounts of additional data have been generated since the end of October following the reported inconclusive clinical validation study. Both partners wish to evaluate these most recent findings alongside the fully analyzed data set on the training, transfer and testing phase studies.
The postponing of a decision on the breast cancer test is independent of the colon cancer screening test milestone, which Epigenomics still expects to be agreed upon by both partners by the end of 2005.
