NEW YORK (GenomeWeb News) – Response Genetics today said that it has licensed to GlaxoSmithKline non-exclusive rights to its PCR technology and "diagnostic expertise" to assess BRAF gene mutations in human tumor samples.
The BRAF gene encodes B-Raf proto-oncogene serine/threonine-protein kinase, a protein that is involved in cell signaling and cellular growth and differentiation. Mutations of the gene have been associated with the development of certain forms of cancer, particularly melanoma, and GSK is one of multiple drug firms pursuing the development of BRAF inhibitors.
Los Angeles-based Response Genetics said that it will receive certain agreed-to milestone payments, but further financial terms of the agreement were not disclosed.
Kathleen Danenberg, president and CEO of Response Genetics, noted that the firm already provides GSK with genetic testing services to support its drug development programs.
Response Genetics sells its ResponseDX: Colon, ResponseDX: Lung, and ResponseDX: Gastric genetic test panels in the US directly and through an agreement with NeoGenomics Laboratories inked in September 2008. All of the tests are performed at Response Genetics' CLIA-certified lab.
In Tuesday afternoon trade on the Nasdaq, shares of Response Genetics were up 32 percent at $2.83.