Lab21 to develop colorectal cancer diagnostic product

Lab21 is allying with a major pharmaceutical company to create a new diagnostic product to accompany a developmental colorectal cancer drug.

The unnamed pharmaceutical manufacturer, which is one of the largest in the world, will collaborate with Lab21 to develop, manufacture and distribute a companion diagnostic assay for the detection of specific mutations in colorectal cancer samples.

It will see Lab21 contributing its molecular diagnostic development resources and proprietary SPARQ polymerase chain reaction technology, as well as access to its sample analysis service from its accredited laboratory in Cambridge.

The assay will be launched under Lab21's Onconostica brand and is thought to be the first companion diagnostic product to be co-branded by a pharmaceutical company and its development partner.

Berwyn Clarke, chief scientific officer of Lab21, said: "Lab21 is intent on providing efficient development of cost-effective, market-leading biomarker products to its pharmaceutical partners, using its extensive experience in both nucleic-acid and protein-based diagnostics."

Last month, the company announced that it has secured EU and US patents relating to drug resistance genotyping for the hepatitis C virus.