Alliance to Develop CF Biomarkers

A research collaboration to discover and validate serum biomarkers of cystic fibrosis (CF) has been announced by Oxford GlycoSciences Plc (OGS, Oxford, UK) and Cystic Fibrosis Foundation Therapeutics, Inc. (CFFTI, Bethesda, MD, USA), a nonprofit affiliate of the US Cystic Fibrosis Foundation (CFF).

OGS will use its proteomics technology to analyze clinical samples collected by the University of North Carolina at Chapel Hill (USA) to identify serum proteins that predict early CF lung disease. These markers could be especially useful for monitoring infants for whom current assessment methods are limited. The collaboration results may also aid a better defining of CF disease mechanisms, providing insights that could lead to the development of new drugs. Current treatment of CF is limited and depends on the stage of the disease and the organs involved.

Under the terms of the agreement, OGS retains commercial rights to databases, prognostic and diagnostic applications, and certain applications developed outside CF, while CFFTI retains exclusive rights to CF therapeutics and certain related applications.

"This research has the potential to benefit patients in two ways: by diagnosing complications sooner and by intervening earlier and more efficiently. Both may improve the quality of life of tens of thousands of CF patients,” said Robert J. Beall, Ph.D., president and CEO of CFFTI and the Cystic Fibrosis Foundation.



Related Links:
Oxford GlycoSciences
Cystic Fibrosis Foundation