GE Healthcare and Affibody AB to Collaborate on Imaging Agent for Cancer Detection

GE Healthcare (Chalfont St. Giles, UK), a global healthcare products provider, and Affibody AB (Affibody; Stockholm, Sweden), a biotech company focused on developing next generation biopharmaceuticals, have signed a collaboration agreement over the development of a PET imaging agent that targets Human Epidermal Growth Factor Receptor 2 (Her2) gene, which may detect breast and gastric cancer.

Overexpression of the Her2 gene has been shown to play an important role in the development and progression of certain types of aggressive breast cancer and gastric cancer. In recent years, the gene has served as a valuable biomarker and therapy target for the disease.

Clinical trials on the agent are scheduled to begin later this year. The trials intend to confirm Her2 status in patients with recurring breast cancer, determine if Her2 status changes over time, monitor therapy of patients with metastatic breast cancer who are undergoing anti-Her2 treatments, and help resolve indeterminate Her2 tests. If the study yields positive results, patients suffering from these cancers may ultimately receive improved anti-Her2 therapies.

Both GE Healthcare and Affibody are looking forward to the collaboration and hope the trials will lead to a more accurate diagnosis of the diseases and enhanced treatment for cancer patients.

“The partnership brings together the best of several distinct offerings – GE Healthcare’s market expertise in the global PET market, industrialization and commercialization, and Affibody’s expertise in generating high-affinity binders and initial clinical data,” said Marivi Mendizabal, head of research, GE Healthcare, Medical Diagnostics. “We expect a productive collaboration with leading academics and the pharma industry to help this research reach its full potential.”



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