NEW YORK (GenomeWeb News) – Metabolon today announced research collaborations and a licensing agreement aimed at diabetes in Mexico and Latin America.
As part of the multiyear, royalty-based research collaborations, Metabolon's Quantose IR technology will be used in several diabetes prevention studies in Mexico. The licensing deal with Patia Biopharma provides exclusive access in Mexico to Metabolon's prediabetes technology for evaluating insulin resistance in Mexico through Patia and Clinica Ruiz's laboratory network.
Patia and its affiliates will use the Quantose IR technology in large-scale studies in Mexico to test for prediabetes in up to 3 million overweight or obese adults and secondary school students who are either obese and/or have a family history of diabetes. The goal is to detect prediabetes earlier and then treat the condition before it progresses to type 2 diabetes.
Metabolon's prediabetes test is a multi-analyte assay that requires a single fasting blood sample, the firm said.
Testing will begin this year and last for four years, Metabolon added. All testing will be conducted at Clinica Ruiz's laboratories, which will use mass spectrometry and a laboratory-developed test based on the Quantose IR technology.
Quantose IR will also be made commercially available to private hospitals, clinics, government hospitals, and national prevention plans in Mexico, the Research Triangle Park, NC-based company said.
Financial and other terms of the agreements were not disclosed.