The partnership, initiated in October 2005, is based on ExonHit’s gene expression analysis expertise and intellectual property, and on bioMerieux’s know-how in the field of in vitro diagnostics. Three programs to develop blood-based cancer diagnostics are currently underway: the first is on breast cancer for which a prospective study is ongoing, the second is aimed at colorectal cancers and the third, targeting prostate cancer, was initiated in January 2007.
Bruno Tocque, chairman of the management board of ExonHit, said: “This amendment is a major step forward in ExonHit’s development because it allows us to consider generating our own source of revenues from products based on our technology which are issued from the collaboration. To this end, we are modifying our laboratories and our processes in order to best meet the pharmaceutical industry’s specific requirements.”