MPI and Affymetrix Collaborate to Develop Cancer Treatment Products

Medical Prognosis Institute has announced that they have signed an agreement with Affymetrix. With this agreement, MPI gains non-exclusive access to Affymetrix microarray technology to develop and commercialize drug sensitivity prediction and prognostic products for patients with cancer.

- Our partnership with Affymetrix enables us to translate our discoveries into robust tools with broad clinical utility to greatly improve the prognosis and treatment of millions of people living with cancer. It also boosts the probability of successful anti-cancer drug development in partnership with drug companies, said Jesper Drejet, President and CEO of Medical Prognosis Institute. 

Of 179 new anti-cancer drugs tested in Phase I trials between 1976 and 1993, only 28 percent were considered effective in Phase III. MPI believes the lack of effect is highly correlated to the response rate, and is now pursuing the opportunity to identify responders; for example, for failed Phase III cancer drugs. Based on Affymetrix microarray technology, MPI aims to market its own proprietary products targeted at individual cancer prognosis and prediction of anti-cancer treatment response.

- MPI's cancer prognosis tools have the potential to customize treatment schemes, revolutionize the control of this disease and the chances of recovery. Agreements such as this continue to validate the need for microarrays for complex signatures for reproducibility and accuracy, said Kevin King, President of Affymetrix.

MPI hopes to obtain regulatory clearance and achieve commercialization within one to two years.

Source: Press release, Affymetrix, 01.10.2008