Proteome Sciences Signs $2m Contract with Genting TauRx Diagnostic Centre
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Proteome Sciences plc has announced that its PS Biomarker Services Division has been selected to develop diagnostic products for Genting TauRx Diagnostic Centre Sdn. Bhd. (‘GTD’), an affiliate of TauRx Therapeutics Ltd (‘TauRx Therapeutics’).
The project will involve PS analyzing blood samples from patients enrolled in a phase 3 trial of the experimental Alzheimer’s drug LMTX, targeting the tau pathway, and from age-matched controls. LMTX is being developed by TauRx Therapeutics for the treatment for Alzheimer’s disease of mild to moderate severity.
Key to selecting Proteome Sciences was its established portfolio of blood biomarkers for predicting the progression of patients with Mild Cognitive Impairment and Alzheimer’s disease along with its proprietary TMT-MS3 plasma proteomics workflows.
The study will involve blood proteomic profiling of approximately 1,000 individuals and construction of targeted protein panels for detection of Alzheimer’s disease and for monitoring of treatment efficacy.
Under the terms of the agreement Proteome Sciences will receive research fees totalling $2M comprising upfront and milestone payments. GTD will receive a license to Proteome Sciences’ existing blood biomarkers for AD and both parties will share commercialization rights of the diagnostic assays developed.
Commenting on the Agreement, Dr. Ian Pike, Chief Operating Officer of Proteome Sciences said: “We are delighted that GTD has chosen PS Biomarker Services to develop diagnostic assays in the challenging field of Alzheimer’s disease. Having tests that can reliably detect the disease, select the right patients to receive LMTX and monitor their response will be critical in ensuring more people can benefit from this potentially ground-breaking treatment.”
Dr. Pike continued, “Our proprietary proteomics services using Tandem Mass Tags and MS3 quantification along with our long and successful track record in discovering and developing Alzheimer’s disease biomarkers was a key factor in GTD’s decision and we very much look forward to working with them.”
Dr. Claude Wischik, Professor of Old Age Psychiatry at the University of Aberdeen and Chief Executive of GTD added: “We have been impressed by the work undertaken by Proteome Sciences in the field of Alzheimer’s disease. They have made real progress in developing assays for disease detection and have proven technology available for the development of diagnostics.”
Dr. Wischik continued, “GTD and TauRx Therapeutics bring additional resources and understanding of this devastating condition that will help turn today’s research tools into tomorrow’s clinical diagnostic products, offering reliable results for doctors at reasonable cost to healthcare systems. Given the large numbers of people affected by tau aggregation pathology 20 - 30 years before the disease becomes visible on the clinical horizon, there is a need to identify persons at risk with a view to use of treatments like LMTX for early stage prevention.”
