Business
Signs 2nd agreement with US biopharma company
Signs 2nd agreement with US biopharma company.
About this update from Oxford Biodynamics Plc
[{"type":"text","content":"\n \nRNS Number : 7701A Oxford BioDynamics PLC 03 January 2018 \n\n3 January 2018\n \nOxford BioDynamics Plc\n(\"OBD\" or the \"Company\" and, together with its subsidiaries, the \"Group\")\n \nOxford BioDynamics signs second collaboration agreement with major US biopharmaceutical company\n \nEpiSwitch™ technology to develop predictive biomarkers for immuno-oncology therapies\n \nThere is a significant unmet need for predictive biomarkers for this class of therapeutic\n \nOxford BioDynamics Plc (AIM: OBD), a biotechnology company focused on the discovery and development of epigenetic biomarkers based on regulatory genome architecture, for use within the pharmaceutical and biotechnology industry, is pleased to announce that it has entered into a second collaboration with a major US biopharmaceutical company to extend its development of predictive biomarkers for immuno-oncology (IO) therapies. The first collaboration with this company was announced on 7 November 2017. To date, OBD has entered into four agreements to discover and develop predictive biomarkers for IO therapeutics, two with pharmaceutical companies, one with a major US healthcare concern and the latest agreement with a major US biopharmaceutical company. \n \nThe fast-emerging IO therapies work by equipping the body's immune system with the tools to kill cancer cells. IO therapies are already transforming lives, with tens of thousands of patients around the world benefiting from first generation IO treatments, which can extend lives for months or years longer than chemotherapy and radiotherapy, with fewer debilitating side effects. It's this long-term benefit and curative potential that is driving these therapies of unique efficacy. Unfortunately, not every patient can benefit from current IO treatments. It is essential to identify the patients who can and who can't respond to specific IO therapies. This will help to direct patients that are non-responders to alternative treatments and help develop insights into the regulatory mechanisms responsible for this non-response. \n \nUnder the terms of the collaboration agreement, the US biopharmaceutical company will be granted access to OBD's unique EpiSwitch™ technology for use in the development of new predictive biomarkers for IO therapies. This will suppo...