QIAGEN to develop new companion diagnostic for compound in clinical trials for blood cancers
Lilly will co-develop companion diagnostic
Lilly’s proprietary compound, called a JAK2 inhibitor, targets the Janus kinase 2 (JAK2) gene, which has been shown to play a role in myeloproliferative neoplasms, a variety of blood cancers that cause blood cells to grow abnormally.
Under the terms of the agreement, QIAGEN will develop a new companion diagnostic test that will provide both qualitative and quantitative results for JAK2 V617F. The assay is intended to identify patients most likely to benefit from treatment with inhibitors of the pathway. The scope of the partnership includes development and use of the QIAGEN JAK2 assay during clinical trials and also covers manufacturing and joint commercialization of the diagnostic product in parallel with the Lilly compound.
QIAGEN gained exclusive access to the JAK2 biomarker through an agreement with Ipsogen, a French company that is a pioneer in profiling and biomarkers for leukemia and other blood cancers. In June, QIAGEN announced a proposal to fully acquire Ipsogen through a process that is under way. The JAK2 pathway is considered to bring high value to drug development in terms of defining and directing the right therapies for patients, and therefore represents a very important target of R&D initiatives in the pharmaceutical industry.
“The collaboration with Lilly is a strong testament to QIAGEN’s capabilities in companion diagnostics, biomarkers and personalized healthcare,” commented Dr. Stephen Little, Vice President Personalized Healthcare at QIAGEN. “We look forward to developing the potential for this innovative diagnostic-therapeutic combination to improve the standard of care for patients suffering from these blood cancers.”
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Topic world Diagnostics
Diagnostics is at the heart of modern medicine and forms a crucial interface between research and patient care in the biotech and pharmaceutical industries. It not only enables early detection and monitoring of disease, but also plays a central role in individualized medicine by enabling targeted therapies based on an individual's genetic and molecular signature.
Topic world Diagnostics
Diagnostics is at the heart of modern medicine and forms a crucial interface between research and patient care in the biotech and pharmaceutical industries. It not only enables early detection and monitoring of disease, but also plays a central role in individualized medicine by enabling targeted therapies based on an individual's genetic and molecular signature.