SAN DIEGO and OXFORD, England, April 4 /PRNewswire-FirstCall/ --
Biosite(R) Incorporated (Nasdaq: BSTE) and privately-held Oxford Genome
Sciences (UK) Ltd. (OGeS) today announced a collaboration for the
evaluation of protein-based disease markers for colorectal cancer. The
markers could be used for the development of potential blood-based
diagnostic products aimed at expanding personalized therapeutic options for
colorectal cancer. In particular, these blood-based diagnostics would be
designed to enable the early identification of colorectal cancer patients
that have relapsed, thus enabling clinicians to select the most appropriate
therapeutic option.
Today, the fecal occult blood test and colonoscopy, a highly invasive
procedure, are the most frequently used screening and diagnostic methods
for colorectal cancer, which has a 30 to 40 percent recurrence rate within
an average of 18 months after primary diagnosis. (1,2,3,4)
OGeS has developed a database (the Oxford Genome Anatomy Project or
OGAP(R)) that integrates genomic, proteomic and clinical information
derived from blood and tissue studies for a large number of diseases. Under
the terms of the collaboration, OGeS will identify at least 25 proteins
discovered in blood and tissue samples from relapsing colorectal cancer
patients and Biosite will have the rights to develop blood-based diagnostic
tests using one or more of those biomarkers. Financial terms of the
agreement were not disclosed.
"We are increasingly interested in studying selected areas of cancer
that can benefit from rapid, effective, non-invasive diagnostic
technologies," said Kim Blickenstaff, Biosite's chairman and chief
executive officer. "This collaboration expands our research aimed at
evaluation of diagnostic tools for relapsing colorectal cancer by providing
us with access to high quality validation of potentially valuable protein
biomarkers."
"Relapsing disease is the major cause of suffering and death in
colorectal cancer patients and there is a complete lack of clinical tools
to aid physicians in the process of deciding whom to treat when and whether
to treat with chemotherapy," said Christian Rohlff, OGeS' chief executive
officer. "This collaboration with Biosite underpins our corporate objective
of applying new strategies to the emerging field of personalized medicine
in oncology to improve patient outcomes."
More than 1 million Americans have colorectal cancer and more than
140,000 new cases are diagnosed each year. More than 55,000 people died
from cancers of the colon/rectum in 2005. Estimated healthcare costs
related to treatment for colorectal cancer in the United States are more
than $8 billion.(5) Patients with a primary diagnosis of colorectal cancer
are followed up on average every three to six months for the first three
years and every six months for the next two years to assess recurrence.(6)
About Oxford Genome Sciences
Oxford Genome Sciences (OGeS) is focused on the development of
personalised medicines, mainly for oncology indications. The Company has
developed a unique integrated platform that combines genomic, proteomic and
clinical information to accelerate the discovery and validation of drug
targets and biomarkers in human beings. The benefits are improved
biomarkers for patient selection, drug response and efficacy monitoring,
and the integration of diagnostics into drug development and product
launch, thereby facilitating more accurate drug development and providing
cost and time savings.
OGeS' strategy is to enter into flexible strategic alliances to capture
maximum value from its unique and integrated platform for the development
of new therapeutics and diagnostics in the field of cancer. In parallel,
the Company provides target and biomarker discovery and screening services
to pharmaceutical and biotechnology companies providing OGeS with
short-term revenues.
OGeS was formed in 2004 and is based near Oxford, UK.
http://www.oxfordgenomesciences.com
About OGAP(R)
OGAP holds the world's largest proprietary collection of proteins
represented by the database, which contains over 1 million peptide
sequences from 50 tissues and 60 disease states, mapped to approximately
15,000 genes and over 8 million single nucleotide polymorphism and
haplotypes. The database can be customised for individual partners to
support and enhance their preclinical and clinical drug development
activities.
About Biosite Incorporated
Biosite Incorporated is a leading bio-medical company commercializing
proteomics discoveries for the advancement of medical diagnosis. The
Company's products contribute to improvements in medical care by aiding
physicians in the diagnosis of critical diseases and health conditions.
Biosite's Triage(R) rapid diagnostics are used in approximately 50 percent
of U.S. hospitals and in more than 50 international markets. Information on
Biosite can be found at http://www.biosite.com.
Except for the historical information presented herein, matters
discussed in this press release are forward-looking statements that involve
risks and uncertainties that could cause actual results to differ
materially from any future results, performance or achievements expressed
or implied by such statements. Statements that are not historical facts,
including but not limited to statements that are preceded by, followed by,
or that include the words "will"; "believes"; "should"; "intends";
"anticipates"; "plans"; "expects"; "estimates"; or similar statements are
forward-looking statements. Forward looking statements include statements
about the potential benefits of the collaboration to Biosite and Oxford
Genome Sciences and Biosite's ability evaluate the diagnostic utility of
the biomarker targets. In addition, there can be no guarantees that Biosite
will develop any diagnostic product in the field of colorectal cancer or
any other form of cancer. Even if Biosite believes it has initially
developed such a product, Biosite may not be able to complete the
development or obtain the regulatory approvals to commercialize the
product. Risks that should be considered include risks and uncertainties
regarding the discovery and product development process generally, risks
associated with the introduction of competitive products from companies
with greater capital and resources, uncertainties around the proprietary
nature of the targets subject to the collaboration, and risks and expenses
associated with litigation, contract disputes, patent conflicts, changes in
reimbursement policies, regulatory changes, and the other risks detailed in
Biosite's most recent Annual Report on Form 10-K, and other SEC filings.
Biosite disclaims, any intent or obligation to update these forward-looking
statements. Copies of Biosite's public disclosure filings are available
from its investor relations department.
Biosite(R), Omniclonal(R), Triage(R) and New Dimensions in Diagnosis(R)
are registered trademarks of Biosite Incorporated. The Company's logo is a
trademark of Biosite Incorporated. OGAP(R) is a registered trade mark of
Oxford Genome Sciences (UK) Ltd
(1) Desch, CE, Benson, III, AB, Somerfield, MR, Flynn, PJ, Krause, C,
Loprinzi, CL, Minsky, BD, Pfister, DG, Virgo, KS, Petrelli , NJ.
Colorectal Cancer Surveillance: 2005 Update of an American Society of
Clinical Oncology Practice Guideline. Journal of Clinical Oncology,
Vol 23, No 33 (November 20), 2005: pp. 8512-8519.
(2) Guyot et al. Time trends in the treatment and survival of recurrences
from colorectal cancer. Ann Oncol.2005; 16: 756-761
(3) Chuwa EW, Seow-Choen F. Outcomes for abdominoperineal resections are
not worse than those of anterior resections. Dis Colon Rectum.
2006 Jan;49(1):41-9.
(4) Incidence and Prevalence Database, 2005.
(5) Cancer Trends Progress Report - 2005 Update, National Cancer
Institute, NIH, DHHS, Bethesda, MD, December 2005,
http://progressreport.cancer.gov.
(6) Desch CE et al. Colorectal Cancer Surveillance: 2005 Update of an
American Society of Clinical Oncology Practice Guideline. Journal of
Clinical Oncology. November 20, 2005;23(33): 8512-8519.
SOURCE Biosite Incorporated; Oxford Genome Sciences (UK) Ltd
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Related links:
http://progressreport.cancer.gov
http://www.oxfordgenomesciences.com
http://www.biosite.com
http://www.prnewswire.com/comp/116737.html /
CONTACT:
Nadine Padilla, VP, Corporate & Investor
Relations, +1-858-805-2820, npadilla@biosite.com, or Nicole
Beckstrand, Manager, Public Relations, +1-858-805-2803,
nbeckstrand@biosite.com, both of Biosite Incorporated; or
Christian Rohlff, Chief Executive Officer of Oxford Genome
Sciences (UK) Ltd, +44 (0) 1235 861770,
christian.rohlff@oxfordgenomesciences.com; or David Dible, or
Valerie Auffray, valerie.auffray@citigatedr.co.uk, both of
Citigate Dewe Rogerson, +44 (0)207 638 9571, for Oxford Genome
Sciences
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