Switzerland-based Roche has signed an agreement to grant non-exclusive licenses to Qiagen for its recently provided patents pertaining to the detection of mutations in the EGFR pathway, including in the KRAS gene.
Terms of the deal have not been disclosed.
Roche Molecular Diagnostics head Paul Brown said: "As a leader in molecular assay development, we are pleased to provide licenses to the applicable patents so that existing and new tests can support patient treatment decisions.
"Ensuring that assays that utilize Roche proprietary information are fully licensed is a key business strategy for us."
The licenses are granted for testing products that detect these mutations using molecular techniques, including PCR and next generation sequencing (NGS).
In addition, the licenses can be applied for other applications that help identify cancer patients who are eligible for treatment with certain tyrosine kinase inhibitors.
Qiagen corporate business development licensing vice-president Dr Achim Ribbe said: "We are pleased with the agreement, which expands our existing intellectual property portfolio covering more than 35 biomarkers and our deep intellectual property estate in EGFR-related testing, including KRAS- testing."
Image: The administration and R&D buildings, Roche Diagnostics Ltd, Rotkreuz. Photo: courtesy of F. Hoffmann-La Roche Ltd.