The partnership, which intends to identify new drug combinations for solid tumor indications, will leverage Presage’s proprietary, patented drug array platform, which has the ability to simultaneously analyze multiple cancer drug candidates and drug combinations within a single living tumor.
In addition, Presage intends to utilize its platform to precisely evaluate patients’ unique responses to microdoses of multiple cancer drugs.
Celgene research and early development president Thomas Daniel said drug development is currently challenged by heavy reliance on in vitro test systems and animal xenografts of little relevance to individual patients.
"The Presage platform addresses this challenge, permitting rapid assessment of drug candidates and combinations in relevant models, with potential to base critical drug development decisions on in vivo response data," Daniel added.
Under the alliance, Celgene will provide an upfront payment, an equity investment, and downstream payments to Presage.
Presage Biosciences president Nathan Caffo said, "The innovative structure of this research collaboration will enable us to continue our plan to expand the application of the Presage platform, which offers fundamental insights into novel cancer drug combinations and drug effects in living tumors."