PRECOS Gains HTA License

Preclinical Oncology Services Limited (PRECOS) has been awarded a license to store and research human tissue samples by the Human Tissue Authority (HTA) in the UK. The license will permit PRECOS to expand its cancer model portfolio.

The HTA licenses more than 800 organizations that store and use human tissue for purposes including research, patient treatment, post-mortem examination, teaching and public exhibitions. Its continuous licensing system is supported by a new sector-specific compliance monitoring framework involving the collection of regular compliance updates from licensed establishments. The HTA enables the necessary regulatory frameworks to ensure that human tissue is used safely, ethically and with proper consent by those organizations awarded licenses.

PRECOS has a large and growing collection of patient-derived tumor xenograft (PDX) models. According to a PRECOS statement, “With increasing focus on subset specific panels of PDX for targeted therapies, genetic profiling and histological heterogeneity are paramount in recapitulating the clinical situation. Retention of the human stroma component in these models provides a more relevant heterogeneous system in which human tumor and stromal cells are in close co-operation within a unique microenvironment, thereby providing the right context to accurately and robustly evaluate the efficacy of a new therapeutic agent.”

With the HTA license, the company will now be able to quickly and easily access patient tissue directly, allowing for greater access to samples for oncology model development by acquiring tissues for specific projects and research. PRECOS will also be able to invest in other cancer types, including breast and hematopoietic, to create panels of subtype specific PDX models with clinical information and original patient material for target identification, validation, through to lead optimization.

PRECOS’ chief operating officer, Dr. Rajendra Kumari, remarked, “Characterization of histology, gene expression and mutational status allow a greater insight into the relevance of each model and the ability to directly link these with the defined clinical subsets. Thus, the panels are designed to help our clients address their key needs and challenges by providing cutting-edge clinically relevant models that are ready to run. Now we are able to procure, store and test a large number of samples sourced from western societies, thereby enhancing the availability of caucasian patient tissues and widening the geographical base and patient population of samples for our clients in UK, Europe and the U.S.”