Qiagen has entered into an agreement with molecular diagnostic component supplier Genome Diagnostics that covers the development and commercialisation of six new tests until 2011.
Qiagen believes that this collaboration will further expand its testing portfolio for the early detection of diseases and individualised treatment of patients and strengthen its molecular diagnostics offering for applications in prevention and personalised medicine.
Financial details have not been disclosed.
The molecular tests to be developed by Genome Diagnostics target the detection of genetic variations in the so-called Human Leukocyte Antigen (HLA) complex.
These assays are said to represent the next generation of such tests and are based on Qiagen's proprietary 'Pyrosequencing' and other sequencing technologies.
Pyrosequencing is claimed to enable fast, cost-effective and accurate analysis of HLA sequences, allowing for direct detection of previously unknown polymorphisms.
Main application areas for the new tests will include prevention and personalised healthcare.
These are areas where HLA testing is considered to be increasingly important.
Among others, the new product portfolio will include tests for the biomarker HLA DQA1 gene, which is associated with a higher risk for adverse reactions to lumiracoxib, a painkiller marketed by Novartis under the trade name Prexige for treatment of osteoporosis.
Lumiracoxib was withdrawn from Canadian, European and Asian markets after the occurrence of adverse reactions linked to its potential toxic effect on the liver.
In early 2010, Novartis announced a possible re-submission of the drug for regulatory approval in combination with an unidentified companion diagnostic which would allow the identification of patients not at risk to develop such adverse reactions, as indicated by their genetic profile.
This would make lumiracoxib the first drug which was withdrawn from the market but then re-approved by regulatory authorities in combination with a companion diagnostic test.
Other biomarkers targeted by the new tests include the identification of alleles (DNA sequences of a particular gene) within the groups HLA-B*27 and HLA-B*57.
The analysis of these genetic variations in the HLA complex allows for the early identification of patients who are at risk of developing disorders such as Morbus Bechterew and other inflammatory diseases, and is therefore considered to be an important part in preventing these disorders.
It has also been shown that certain alleles within the groups of HLA-B*27 and HLA-B*57 can give information on the development and progress of infectious diseases such as AIDS.
Qiagen's portfolio already includes several molecular tests for the DNA-based HLA typing in personalised healthcare, among others a method for the detection of the HLA B*5701 biomarker.
This genetic variation is associated with a higher risk for adverse reactions to the AIDS drug Abacavir.