Health & Fitness
Health and Fitness
Health and Fitness
Mon, November 15, 2010
Sun, November 14, 2010
ICON and Proteome Sciences Partner for the Delivery of Comprehensive Biomarker Solutions
DUBLIN--([ BUSINESS WIRE ])--ICON plc, (NASDAQ:ICLR) (ISIN:IE0005711209), a global provider of outsourced development services to the pharmaceutical, biotechnology and medical device industries,and Proteome Sciences (AIM:PRM) a leading provider of protein biomarker discovery, validation, and assay development services, today announced the formation of a strategic alliance to provide pharmaceutical companies with an expanded biomarker solution to allow earlierassessmentsin the development of new medicines.
Through the alliance with Proteomea™s PS Biomarker Servicesa", ICON is strengthening its current biomarker solution to include an integrated suite of labeling, separation and mass spectrometry technologies for protein and peptide profiling in complex biological materials.
ICON and Proteome Sciences are already engaged in their first joint project which is the development of a mass spectrometry assay for a key biomarker for an international pharmaceutical development company.
Commenting on the initiation of this project, John Allinson, VP Biomarker Lab Services, ICON Development Solutions stated: aWe are extremely pleased to be entering this long-term partnership with Proteome Sciences which allows us to offer our clients access to state of the art protein and peptide profiling and rapid development of mass spectrometry assays through PS Biomarker Servicesa". This complements ICONa™s extensive portfolio of biomarker development and analysis services to help sponsors identify, implement and interpret the right biomarkers to inform their pre-clinical and clinical drug development.a
Dr. Ian Pike, Proteomea™s Chief Operating Officer added: aWe are delighted to be partnering with the team at ICON Development Solutions to provide their clients with a complete biomarker solution, including PS Biomarker Discovery Servicesa" as part of wider clinical development programs. The unique power of our proprietary technology platforms to identify and validate key protein biomarkers of disease and response to treatment is clearly being recognized and used by the pharmaceutical industry.
Notes to Editors:
About ICON plc
ICON plc is a global provider of outsourced development services to the pharmaceutical, biotechnology and medical device industries. The Company specialises in the strategic development, management and analysis of programmes that support clinical development - from compound selection to Phase I-IV clinical studies. ICON currently has around 7,700 employees, operating from 71 offices in 39 countries. For more information visit [ www.iconplc.com ].
About Proteome Sciences
Proteome Sciences is a global leader in applied proteomics and uses high sensitivity proprietary technologies for protein biomarker discovery, validation and assay development. The Companya™s own research has discovered a large number of novel protein biomarkers in key human diseases and is focused mainly in neurological/neurodegenerative conditions and in cancer. It has discovered and patented blood biomarkers, including Alzheimera™s disease, stroke, brain damage and lung cancer for diagnostic and treatment applications. These biomarkers are available for outlicensing. The first blood test for lung cancer using Proteome Sciencesa™ biomarkers was launched in the USA in 2009 and received Medicare reimbursement in 2010. Its PS Biomarker Services provides ISO 9001: 2008 accredited facilities in Frankfurt, Germany, using proprietary isobaric and isotopic Tandem Mass Tags® (TMT®) to discover protein biomarkers, and reference materials combined with isotope dilution mass spectrometry. Highly multiplexed assays can be developed rapidly and are suitable for screening hundreds of candidate biomarkers in validation studies. Assays for validated biomarkers can be transferred for immunoassay development. Proteome Sciences, based in Cobham, UK, has facilities in London and Frankfurt and delivers outsourced proteomics services and proprietary biomarkers to pharmaceutical, biotechnology and diagnostics companies. Visit [ http://www.proteomics.com ].
ICON/ICLR-G
