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OncoMed Taps Genomic Health to Identify Predictive Biomarkers for Anticancer ...

18.05.12

Genomic Health and OncoMed established a strategic partnership focused on the use of next-generation sequencing (NGS) to identify biomarkers that will aid clinical development of the latter’s antibody cancer therapeutics. OncoMed will provide Genomic Health with breast, prostate, colon, and lung tumor samples including xenograft models derived from freshly resected human cancers.

Genomics Health will then use its NGS platform and technologies to find biomarkers that can help identify patients most likely to respond to cancer therapeutics targeting pathways such as Notch andWnt that are critical to cancer stem cells.

OncoMed says the collaboration will accelerate its drive to develop predictive biomarkers enabling the stratification of patients from the early clinical stages of development. “This collaboration supports our long-term vision and belief that molecular diagnostics are inherent for bringing quality, personalized care to all cancer patients from diagnosis through survivorship,” says Steven Shak, M.D., Genomic Health’s CMO. “We can utilize our proven NGS-based diagnostic research and development infrastructure to help optimize patient selection to accelerate clinical development of targeted cancer treatments.”

Source: Genetic Engineering News

Formerly Banned Bird Flu Studies Suggests Pandemic

18.05.12

Bird flu can be transmitted between mammals — and possible humans — needing only four mutations to do so, a new study published this week in the journal Nature suggests. But the mutant virus is not deadly, and the work could show virologists how to combat others like it.

The research, by Yoshihiro Kawaoka, professor of virology at the University of Wisconsin-Madison, is one of two studies that already made headlines when bits of the results were made public. That's because the studies outline how to make a more easily transmissible — and deadly — version of H5N1, or avian flu . The other paper, by Ron Fouchier, of the Erasmus Medical Center in the Netherlands, also described a method of breeding a virulent and transmissible flu in ferrets .

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Debate flared as to whether either study should be published at all, because of fears that a terrorist group or hostile government could use it to make biological weapons . This kind of research is classified as "dual use," much like that involving nuclear material. In the end, the National Science Advisory Board on Biosecurity (NSABB), which advises the government on publicly financed research, decided to allow the publication of Kawaoka's work. In the Netherlands, Fouchier was granted an export license, allowing him to submit the work to the journal Science. Fouchier, however, had previously said he would go ahead with publication regardless of a license.  [ Inside the H5N1 Debate ]

Source: Discovery News