EiRx, bioMérieux to share biomarker research programs

By Elaine Rigoli

Tampa, Fla., July 12 - EiRx Therapeutics plc and bioMérieux SA have entered into a collaboration to validate the diagnostic and therapeutic potential of candidate tumor markers emerging from their respective cancer research programs.

Financial details of the agreement were not disclosed.

EiRx and bioMérieux both undertake research into the expression of genes and proteins within tumor samples from cancer patients, aiming to identify "biomarkers" associated with the development and progression of the disease.

Biomarker technologies are expected to contribute to the improved diagnosis and treatment of cancer and to accelerate the development and clinical evaluation of new medicines.

During the collaboration, bioMérieux will explore the utility of proteins from EiRx's biomarker panel as components of new and improved diagnostic tests for colorectal cancer, according to a news release.

At the same time, EiRx will employ its siRNA-driven functional validation platform to explore the utility of bioMérieux's colorectal biomarker panel as targets for new drug therapies, the release said.

During the evaluation phase of the collaboration, which will last up to 18 months, EiRx grants bioMérieux an exclusive option to license and exploit diagnostic applications of its biomarker intellectual property.

bioMérieux grants EiRx a reciprocal exclusive option to license and exploit therapeutic applications of its intellectual property and will undertake development of companion diagnostics for any drug candidates developed by EiRx against targets proposed by bioMérieux.

bioMérieux is an international diagnostics company with headquarters in Marcy l'Etoile, France.

EiRx, a research-driven company developing new targeted therapies for the treatment of cancer, has headquarters in Cork, Ireland.

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