DHMRI alliance to give Esoterix clients access to enhanced assay development services
Under the deal Esoterix – a division of Laboratory Corporation of America Holdings (LabCorp) - will receive assays developed at DHMRI to support their global clinical studies.
Clients will benefit from DHMRI’s other capabilities, ranging from profiling at genetic, biochemical, cellular and in vivo level, to clinical immune system monitoring.
David Johnston, senior VP and global head of clinical trials at LabCorp, said: “With the addition of DHMRI’s discovery capabilities, LabCorp offers its clinical trials clients the most complete suite of biomarker development tools in the industry.
“Our collaboration with DHMRI exemplifies our strong commitment to providing cutting-edge services to our clients.”
The agreement also allows Esoterix the ability to commercialize their companion diagnostics, along with other biomarkers, once they gain approval.
Full steam ahead
The move is the latest in the company’s strategy to expand its assay business.
It comes just two months after LabCorp’s acquisition of late-stage genomic testing services firm Clearstone.
At the time Clearstone CEO Lewis Cameron said: “We are pleased to announce this agreement because of the growth opportunity and long-term strategic value it creates for our clients.
“Clearstone has already been working closely with LabCorp’s Esoterix division under a strategic collaboration agreement, which has resulted in a number of client success stories.
“We will now be a single team that is completely focused on exceeding our customer’s drug development objectives.”
In August, LabCorp also announced the nationwide availability of a nucleic acid sequencing assay, adding to its HCV testing capabilities.
The assays report NS3 and NS4A mutations and NS3 associated resistance to the recently approved hepatitis C virus (HCV) protease inhibitors.
"HCV GenoSure NS3/4A represents the first in a series of HCV drug resistance assays that have been developed at Monogram Biosciences to support the clinical evaluation of HCV direct-acting antiviral (DAA) agents and their use in the management of HCV infection," said Chris Petropoulos, PhD, LabCorp's VP of monogram research & development.
"We look forward to expanding our broad HCV assay portfolio to support the development and clinical application of additional DAA agents that target other distinct steps in the HCV replication cycle."
