Response Genetics Signs Agreement With Roche Diagnostics to Support Cancer Test Development
Response Genetics Inc, a company focused on the development and sale of molecular diagnostic tests for cancer, announces it has signed a nonexclusive license with Roche Diagnostics for the use of Response Genetics’ patented PCR analysis to assess human epidermal growth factor type 2 (HER2) gene expression.
The accurate measurement of HER2 gene expression can assist physicians with treatment decisions for patients with cancers in tissues such as breast.
“We are extremely pleased to be working with Roche to help make personalized medicine a reality for cancer patients,” said Kathleen Danenberg, Response Genetics’ president and CEO. “This agreement strengthens our long relationship with Roche and fulfills a promise we made during our initial public offering to license our intellectual property while protecting our intellectual capital freedom.”
Results from a recent study presented at the 31st Annual San Antonio Breast Cancer Symposium (SABCS) found that women with HER2-positive gene expression have a three times higher risk of recurrence, even if the cancer is caught in the early stages. HER2 gene amplification has been shown to correlate with improved clinical outcome in response to certain cancer drugs, and its measurement by RT PCR was recently shown to correlate with analyses by fluorescence in situ hybridization (FISH) and immunohistochemistry (IHC).
Source: BusinessWire
