Dako Enters Collaboration With Genentech In Developing Diagnostic Tests For Patients with Stomach Cancer

Dako has signed an agreement with Genentech to collaborate on the regulatory submissions of Dako's HercepTest and HER2 FISH pharmDx as companion diagnostics for Herceptin (trastuzumab) in patients with advanced HER2-positive stomach (gastric) cancer.

As per the terms of the agreement, Dako and Genentech will collaborate on regulatory submissions for HercepTest and HER2 FISH pharmDx in the US market only if Herceptin is approved for use against that disease.

Herceptin and Dako’s companion diagnostics HercepTest and HER2 FISH pharmDx have brought significant benefit to women with HER2-positive breast cancer. We are very excited to work with Genentech to extend these successful companion diagnostics to patients with stomach cancer, says Lars Holmkvist, CEO and President of the Dako Group.

We are very pleased to announce our collaboration with Genentech to potentially further expand the market for targeted therapies. We see great potential in a strong collaborative approach between biotechnology and pharmaceutical companies, and diagnostic companies, in targeting the right drugs for the right patients, both to improve patient care and more efficiently manage health care costs, says Lars Holmkvist.