Roche Collaborates with Merck on Developmental Test for Cancer-Related Gene Mutation
February 17 2010 - 12:00PM
PR Newswire (US)
Investigational AmpliChip p53 Test Designed to Screen for Genetic
Mutation Tied to Therapeutic Resistance in Cancer Patients
PLEASANTON, Calif., Feb. 17 /PRNewswire/ -- Roche Molecular
Systems, Inc. (SIX: RO, ROG; OTCQX: RHHBY) announced today a
research collaboration with Merck Sharp & Dohme Corp. (a
subsidiary of Merck & Co., Inc.) providing Merck access to
Roche's developmental microarray-based AmpliChip p53 Test, which is
designed to detect mutations in the tumor suppressor gene p53. By
identifying cancers that harbor a dysfunctional p53 gene, the
companies aim to achieve better treatment outcomes in cancer
patients by determining which patients are most likely to respond
to certain investigational therapeutic candidates. "Roche designed
its investigational AmpliChip p53 Test to rapidly provide
clinically important information that can be used early in
pharmaceutical development to help predict cancer patient responses
to certain therapeutic candidates," said Paul Brown, president and
CEO, Roche Molecular Diagnostics. "Roche is excited to enter into
this collaboration with Merck because of the potential this test
has to improve cancer patient response to treatment." The p53
protein is a critical component of normal cell response to various
stress types including damaged genetic material or DNA
(deoxyribonucleic acid). The p53 protein functions by activating
DNA repair proteins, inducing growth arrest for repair of DNA
damage, and by initiating apoptosis (programmed cell death) in the
case of irreparable DNA damage. When p53 function is deficient, a
cell's response to DNA damage is severely impaired, contributing to
tumor growth and increasing tumor cells' resistance to
chemotherapy. Roche's investigational AmpliChip p53 Test is
designed to detect damage to p53 DNA in tumor cells in order to
identify which cells carry dysfunctional p53 proteins that can lead
to treatment resistance. "The goal of our research is to discover
and develop innovative cancer therapeutics and deliver them to the
right patients at the right time," said Eric Rubin, M.D., vice
president, Oncology, Merck Research Laboratories. "By applying the
AmpliChip p53 Test in selected clinical trials we hope to identify
those patients most likely to respond to specific therapeutic
regimens in development." About Roche AmpliChip Technology Roche
AmpliChip technology combines two leading-edge DNA amplification
and detection technologies to screen for genetic mutations in
cells. The Roche polymerase chain reaction (PCR) is used to amplify
or make copies of genetic material, and Affymetrix high-density
microarray technology is used to capture and scan the amplified
DNA. The combination of these two technologies in AmpliChip is
intended to enable physicians and laboratories to determine when
mutations are present and to predict the effect those mutations
could have on patients' response to medical treatment. About Roche
Headquartered in Basel, Switzerland, Roche is a leader in
research-focused healthcare with combined strengths in
pharmaceuticals and diagnostics. Roche is the world's largest
biotech company with truly differentiated medicines in oncology,
virology, inflammation, metabolism and CNS. Roche is also the world
leader in in-vitro diagnostics, tissue-based cancer diagnostics and
a pioneer in diabetes management. Roche's personalized healthcare
strategy aims at providing medicines and diagnostic tools that
enable tangible improvements in the health, quality of life and
survival of patients. In 2009, Roche had over 80,000 employees
worldwide and invested almost 10 billion Swiss francs in R&D.
The Group posted sales of 49.1 billion Swiss francs. Genentech,
United States, is a wholly owned member of the Roche Group. Roche
has a majority stake in Chugai Pharmaceutical, Japan. For more
information: http://www.roche.com/. ROCHE and AMPLICHIP are
trademarks of Roche. AFFYMETRIX is a trademark of Affymetrix, Inc.
(NASDAQ:AFFX). For more information, please contact: Karin Bauer
Roche Molecular Systems, Inc. 925 353 8271 DATASOURCE: Roche
Molecular Systems, Inc. CONTACT: Karin Bauer of Roche Molecular
Systems, Inc., +1-925-353-8271, Web Site: http://www.roche.com/
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