Qiagen adds biomarkers for personalised healthcare companion diagnostics

Qiagen has announced two agreements adding promising new biomarkers involving glioblastoma, lymphoma and other cancers to the company’s expanding portfolio of potential companion diagnostics that is being developed to help doctors use a patient’s genomic information to guide treatment decisions.

In the glioblastoma project, Qiagen has entered into an exclusive worldwide licensing option on FGFR-TACC fusion genes with Columbia University in New York. Qiagen intends to develop this biomarker into a diagnostic test for routine use in diagnostic workups, which may enable doctors to identify glioblastoma patients who could benefit from targeted treatments now under development.

Glioblastoma is the most common and aggressive form of primary brain tumour, a serious unmet medical need because the disease is generally fatal despite aggressive therapy. Fusions between members of the FGFR and TACC gene families have been identified recently as present in several other malignancies, including bladder cancers.

Qiagen has also entered into an exclusive licence option with the BC Cancer Agency, based in Vancouver, for the EZH2 Y641 mutation biomarker that could serve as a companion diagnostic test for routine selection of patients who could benefit from EZH2 targeted therapies that are currently under development by major pharmaceutical companies.

“The expansion of our portfolio of biomarkers for the development of innovative companion diagnostics is a key focus of Qiagen. Through personalised healthcare, Qiagen is helping doctors achieve better outcomes for patients and better utilise healthcare resources by targeting the right drugs to the right patients,” said Peer M Schatz, Chief Executive Officer of Qiagen.

“Deep relationships with leading academic centres provide a rich source of biomarkers, as in these latest two agreements. In partnership with top pharmaceutical companies, we are translating genomic discoveries into standardised companion diagnostics to guide the use of targeted drugs. Personalised healthcare is driving the growth of Qiagen as molecular information plays an increasingly important role in improving outcomes for patients.”