re: Ann: Lung cancer diagnostic license signe... A partnership...

re: Ann: Lung cancer diagnostic license signe... A partnership between a leading molecular diagnostics company and a major pharmaceutical company could help to promote further acceptance of personalized medicine. Celera (Rockville, MD) entered into a research collaboration with Merck & Company, Inc. (Whitehouse Station, NJ) to develop biomarker and pharmacogenomic tests for cancer patients. Under the terms of the agreement, Celera will evaluate the use of certain gene expression profiles identified by Merck, with the goal of developing diagnostic predictors for use in Merck’s clinical trials. Such predictors could potentially form the basis for commercial companion diagnostic tests for oncology therapies.

Celera’s close ties with Merck are not new. According to Celera officials, the company’s relationship with Merck has unfolded over a long period of time. Celera has had a long-standing, multiyear exchange of information with Merck, which resulted in this research collaboration.