Tm Bioscience licenses key P450 pharmacogenetic marker from Epidauros Biotechnology

16-Mar-2006

Tm Bioscience Corporation announced it has signed an agreement with EPIDAUROS Biotechnologie AG for a co-exclusive commercial license to EPIDAUROS' patents on a specific biomarker related to the P450-CYP2D6 gene. Only one other company has a license to this genetic marker and Tm Bioscience and EPIDAUROS have negotiated an agreement whereby no other licenses for this variant will be granted in the future.

"This licensing agreement puts Tm in the exceptional position of being one of only three companies, including EPIDAUROS, in the world with the right to use this genetic marker. This is one of the most important markers in pharmacogenetics, critical for identifying the second most frequent variation in the CYP2D6 gene in Caucasians. This marker occurs in 8.4% of the Caucasian population and can lead to changes in the function of the enzyme implicated in the metabolism of 25% of the most commonly prescribed drugs. Roche Diagnostics includes this marker in its AmpliChip CYP450 test cleared for in vitro diagnostic use in the US and EU," said Greg Hines, President and CEO of Tm Bioscience. "Having a co-exclusive license to this marker will give our 2D6 product a distinct advantage in the marketplace and further establishes Tm Bioscience as a leader in personalized medicine."

Under the terms of the agreement Tm Bioscience will provide an upfront signing-fee and royalties on their commercial sales of P450 Tag-It(TM) tests that include this biomarker..

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