p63
p63 (4A4) mouse monoclonal primary antibody

Ventana Medical Systems, Inc, Tucson, Ariz, a member of the Roche Group, and Biocare Medical LLC, Concord, Calif, have have joined forces, allowing Biocare access to certain patents and materials related to p63 diagnostics in the research and IVD field. 

In parallel, Biocare and AsymmetRx Medical Inc, Acton, Mass, have settled their dispute as it relates to the p63 technology.  As part of the settlement, Biocare has gained a worldwide license through Ventana to distribute p63 (4A4) mouse monoclonal primary antibody in both the research and IVD market and AsymmetRx has agreed to terminate all patent infringement litigation.

“Including p63 in our lung, prostate, and breast panels really empowers our Multiplex IHC platform to aid pathologists in making critical decisions and solidifies our passion for patient care and the ability to fight cancer one slide at a time,” says Roy Paxton Yih, president and CEO, Biocare Medical.

AsymmetRx holds the exclusive, worldwide license under the Harvard Medical School patent filings for the use of the p63 antibody as an aid in the diagnosis of prostate and other cancers. Financial terms of the license and settlement were not disclosed.

The p63 gene was discovered in the Harvard lab of Frank McKeon, PhD, and the p63 cancer diagnostic test was invented by a collaboration of labs at Harvard Medical School, Dana Farber Cancer Institute, and the Brigham and Women’s Hospital.  p63 protein is highly expressed in prostate, breast, bladder, and lung tissue and the p63 (4A4) mouse monoclonal antibody has been extremely useful in the differentiation of benign and malignant lesions in conjunction with morphological findings.

Numerous articles in top clinical journals have cited the accuracy and utility of p63 as an aid in prostate cancer diagnosis, and it has become the gold standard used by leading hospitals, laboratories, and experts worldwide.

“Prostate cancer is one of the most difficult cancers to diagnose, and the p63-based test adds a significant advantage to making the correct diagnosis,  says Peter F. McKeon, president, AsymmetRx Medical.

[Source: Ventana Medical Systems Inc]