Genomic Health, Almac Enter Exclusive In-Licensing Pact

Genomic Health has entered an agreement to exclusively license Almac Group’s technology and intellectual property to further develop, validate and commercialize a multi-gene test to predict benefit from DNA damage-based chemotherapy drugs, such as anthracycline-based regimens, in breast cancer. This test would be particularly useful for high-risk breast cancer patients who are eligible for chemotherapy based on their Oncotype DX score.

Genomic Health will identify a study cohort for the validation of Almac’s previously identified and published genes. Almac will receive an upfront payment of $9 million and additional milestones based on certain clinical and commercial goals. Upon successful commercialization of the test, Almac will receive royalties.

“Working with Almac, we have the opportunity to gain further insight on the role of DNA repair in drug efficacy, which may provide clinical utility to help select which breast cancer patients benefit from specific chemotherapy drugs and regimens,” said Steven Shak, M.D., executive vice president of R&D of Genomic Health. “This new test may address another unmet need by providing additional information specific to the benefit from anthracycline-based regimens for high-risk patients and possibly those with triple negative breast cancer as well.” 

“As developers of novel prognostic and predictive tests, we are very pleased to partner with Genomic Health and look forward to leveraging their rigorous clinical validation approach and commercial expertise to advance our development work to reach patients,” said Paul Harkin, president and managing director of Almac Diagnostics. “We see tests such as this having a significant impact on accelerating personalized healthcare thereby improving the clinical management of cancer patients.”