BRANFORD, Conn., Nov. 12, 2010 /PRNewswire/ — HistoRx, Inc.
(privately held), a diagnostics company, announced the launch and
first commercial sale this week of clinical diagnostic assays based
on AQUA® technology. Genoptix, Inc. (Nasdaq:
GXDX), a specialized laboratory service provider, is launching
NexCourse®(1) BCa by AQUA technology, a suite of breast cancer
assays based on quantitative immunohistochemistry. NexCourse
BCa by AQUA technology is:
- More reproducible than traditional IHC testing, for confidence
in determining appropriate therapy - Minimizes receptor status false-negative results by utilizing
an objective, quantified score for protein expression that
provides more accurate results; and - Ideal for confirmatory testing of ER/PR/HER2 status
prior to hormonal therapy, antibody-based therapy and/or
chemotherapy when initial results are inconclusive or
negative.
Genoptix and HistoRx signed a multi-year licensing agreement for
AQUA® technology and several diagnostic assays based on it in
February 2010; the first commercial use announced today triggers a
key milestone payment outlined in the agreement. Genoptix
obtained exclusive commercial laboratory rights in the United
States to develop and perform estrogen receptor (ER), progesterone
receptor (PR), and human epidermal growth factor receptor 2 (HER2)
assays using HistoRx’s proprietary technology.
Misclassification of receptor status by IHC is common:
several studies have shown that false-positive and
false-negative ER/PR/HER2 results occur regularly in laboratories
around the country and around the world. Inaccurate results
may affect treatment decisions, excluding patients from use of
potentially efficacious therapies or inappropriately subjecting
patients to therapies known to cause s
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