Iceland Genomics to Analyze Sequenom s Cancer Markers

NEW YORK, Feb. 9 (GenomeWeb News) - Iceland Genomics will analyze Sequenom panels of genetic markers associated with breast and prostate cancer in Icelandic patient samples, Sequenom said today.

Sequenom hopes the collaboration will help validate its markers, which may play a role in disease onset, progression, and therapeutic response.

Using its collections of breast and prostate cancer patient samples and clinical databases, Iceland Genomics will study SNPs from the ICAM and the NuMA gene regions, Sequenom said. The companies will jointly analyze the resulting data to determine "to what extent" these markers are linked to specific clinical endpoints.
 

The results of the collaboration are "expected to increase the utility and value" of Iceland Genomics' cancer genomic database. Financial terms of the deal were not disclosed, though Sequenom said it will retain rights to commercialize products developed as a result of the collaboration. In addition, Iceland Genomics is entitled to receive royalties from sales of those products.

In a statement, Steve Zaniboni, Sequenom's acting CEO, said the company has identified and validated more than 60 high-confidence candidate gene regions in 11 disease areas.