Eisai, Epizyme and Roche announce companion diagnostics alliance

Eisai, Epizyme and Roche Molecular Systems are to collaborate to develop companion diagnostic technology for use in the creation of personalised therapies for lymphoma.

The new tool will allow Eisai and Epizyme to identify patients with lymphomas possessing genetic mutations in the epigenetic enzyme EZH2, facilitating the development of personalised therapies for this demographic.

EZH2 inhibitors have been shown to eradicate lymphoma cells possessing change-of-function mutations in EZH2, suggesting that this is a driving oncogene in these cancers and an important therapeutic target.

The companies are also working to develop a companion diagnostic to identify a genetically defined subset of patients with lymphoma to proceed with effective clinical development.

An Eisai statement said: "By maximising full utilisation of internal and external information obtained from cutting-edge research in human biology … Eisai will continue to contribute to advances in personalised therapeutics for patients with cancer."

This comes after Eisai announced a new neurological disease research alliance with University College London last month.