London Genetics Limited and Astrimmune
have entered into a collaboration to plan a biomarker identification program.
The plan, for Astrimmune’s early-stage pancreatic cancer vaccine candidate,
will be used in applications for further funding of its development. Financial
terms were not disclosed.

Astrimmune’s vaccine candidate induces the production of
antibodies against gastrin, a hormone which is known to stimulate the growth of
many types of gastrointestinal cancer. Since differential response rates have
been observed in clinical trials of other gastrin-blocking products, with some
patients responding very well and others hardly at all, there is a clear need
for biomarkers to help identify those patients most likely to benefit from
Astrimmune’s product. For example, there is a possibility that the variable
response rates may have been due in part to the inclusion of some patients with
gastrin-insensitive tumours, or those not able to respond immunologically.

Under the terms of the collaboration, which is supported by
a grant from the UK East
Midlands Development Agency, London
Genetics and Astrimmune will put together a proposal for identification of biomarkers
predictive of clinical response. London Genetics’ seven academic partners,
which have an annual research budget of over GBP650m, are able to provide
expertise in areas such as tumour biopsy samples and animal models, as well as
expertise in the genetics of immune responses to cancer vaccines.

Dominique Kleyn, CEO of London Genetics, said, ‘This
collaboration is a significant pharmacogenetics development opportunity, and we
are pleased to be working with Astrimmune on this important project. As exemplified
by our recent collaboration with Diaceutics and increasingly recognised by the
biopharmaceutical industry, pharmacogenetics, biomarkers and patient
stratification are becoming an important part of the drug discovery and
development process.

London Genetics’ network of over 3,000 academic groups makes
it an ideal partner for pharma and biotech companies in this work.’ Fred
Jacobs, Managing Director of Astrimmune, said, ‘Pancreatic cancer is an area of
serious unmet medical need, with a five-year survival rate of around 5% and few
treatment options. Availability of a biomarker to select those patients mostly
likely to benefit from Astrimmune’s vaccine candidate can be expected to
expedite the development of this product and increase its chances of coming to market
in the future. London Genetics is an expert in this area and Astrimmune is
delighted to be working with the company on this important part of the project
development.’