Abbott, Roche, Genentech and OSI announce lung cancer test collaboration

Abbott has announced that its molecular diagnostics unit has entered into a partnership agreement with Genentech, Roche and OSI Pharmaceuticals to develop a gene test to assess the benefit of Tarceva (erlotnib).

Tarceva is an orally-administered tablet indicated as a treatment for patients with metastatic or locall advanced non-small cell lung cancer (NSCLC) after a prior chemotherapy regimen has failed.

Under the terms of the agreement, Abbott will use its proprietary fluorescence in situ hybridisation (Fish) technology in NSCLC to detect extra copies of the epidermal growth factor receptor gene.

Fish technology uses DNA probes labelled with coloured flourescent tags that bind to specific gene sequences on chromosomes to facilitate the visualisation of multiple chromosomal abnormalities simultaneously in a single cell.

Stafford O’Kelly, vice-president of molecular diagnostics at Abbott, said: “By helping to unlock the information found at the molecular level in each person’s DNA, we believe that molecular diagnostics hold the promise of personalised medicine.”

He added that the company is aiming to use this technology to reduce risk, produce targeted cures and enhance the prevention and detection of serious illnesses.

Earlier this year, a newly-developed molecular test from Abbott to identify a variant strain of Chlamydia received CE Mark certification in the EU.