Diagenic, Pfizer enter collaboration to identify biomarkers in early stages of Alzheimer's disease

Dec 17 2010

“MCI progression biomarkers will be very useful in drug discovery, in clinical trials as surrogate markers of treatment efficacy as well as being very valuable as diagnostic tests in clinical practice”

DiaGenic ASA (OSE:DIAG) and Pfizer Inc [NYSE: PFE] today signed an agreement for explorative R&D collaboration to identify biomarkers in early stages of Alzheimer's disease (AD) using DiaGenic's patented gene expression technology and its blood samples from ongoing clinical studies.

The companies will perform a joint modular study where they will compare longitudinal changes in blood based gene expression patterns in subjects with stable mild cognitive impairment (MCI), progressive MCI (prodromal AD), and Alzheimer's disease. The objective is to identify gene expression patterns in blood from patients who progress from MCI to Alzheimer's disease and with different stages of Alzheimer's disease.

The study expects to start in December and the agreement gives Pfizer a non-exclusive, world-wide license to use DiaGenic's MCI test and AD tests in their research and drug development programs.

"MCI progression biomarkers will be very useful in drug discovery, in clinical trials as surrogate markers of treatment efficacy as well as being very valuable as diagnostic tests in clinical practice", said DiaGenic CEO Dr. Erik Christensen, MD PhD. "This collaboration is the first result of DiaGenic's refocused strategy on teaming up with large pharmaceutical companies to deliver new diagnostic tools. It also demonstrates that DiaGenic is an attractive partner for identifying progression biomarkers as we bring along a unique experience in blood based gene expression testing as well as an extensive bio bank of well characterized MCI and AD patients."

"Teaming up with Pfizer for an explorative R&D collaboration is a significant recognition of the work DiaGenic has performed for the last 12 years. DiaGenic's strong IP portfolio linked to measuring gene expression in blood makes us unique as a partner in the CNS field," said DiaGenic's R&D Director and co-founder, Dr. Anders Lönneborg. "In drug development, DiaGenic's biomarker program will enable an early and accurate diagnosis of Alzheimer's disease and therefore improve success rates in clinical trials."

The commercial terms of the agreement remains undisclosed.