A Medical Device Daily

BG Medicine (Waltham, Massachusetts) and ACS Biomarker (Maastricht, the Netherlands) reported that they have entered into an agreement in which BG obtained rights to develop and commercialize a novel clinical diagnostic test for acute atherothrombosis based on a biomarker discovered by the Cardiovascular Research Institute Maastricht (CARIM).

ACS has granted BG exclusive, worldwide commercial rights to pursue the development, validation regulatory approval of diagnostic tests based on the biomarker discovered by CARIM, in exchange for milestone payments, royalties based on net sales and sublicensing income of any products commercialized under the license.

Atherothrombosis occurs when vascular plaque ruptures leading to thrombosis, or clotting, in the affected artery, which in turn can progress to life-threatening conditions such as heart attacks and stroke. The underlying condition is usually asymptomatic until the presentation of a serious or life-threatening event, resulting from the rupture.

The test that BG expects to develop aims to use the biomarker discovered by CARIM to identify plaque rupture in patients early, for instance, when the blockage is temporary or not complete and has not yet caused the common signs and symptoms of heart attack or stroke.

The test aims to aid in the diagnosis of less severe or transient conditions such as transient ischemic attacks (TIAs), often considered warning-strokes which produce stroke-like symptoms, and unstable angina. A TIA is followed by a stroke in 10% of patients within 90 days after the TIA. The test may also provide reliable data in the early hours following a heart attack when current tests are not reliable.

ACS, a company that was formed with technology exclusively licensed from the University of Maastricht and other parties, was founded to develop and commercialize cardiovascular biomarkers discovered at CARIM.

In May 2007, BG acquired the exclusive rights to develop and commercialize diagnostic tests for congestive heart failure based on certain, other biomarkers that it licensed from ACS.

BG is a life sciences company focused on the development of molecular diagnostics.

Molecular diagnostics company Vermillion (Fremont, California) reported the renewal of a long-standing collaboration with Johns Hopkins University (Baltimore) related to the development of novel biomarkers that can be applied toward disease detection, classification and monitoring of prevalent cancers, including ovarian, breast and prostate. Vermillion will have access to exclusive commercial rights to the discoveries made through the partnership.

Eric Fung, MD, PhD, chief scientific officer of Vermillion, said, “For more than seven years we have had a highly productive relationship with Dr. Daniel W. Chan, professor of pathology/urology/oncology/radiology, director of the Clinical Chemistry Division in the Department of Pathology and Director for the Center for Biomarker Discovery, and his esteemed team at Johns Hopkins University. Working in tandem with this distinguished institution on the discovery of clinical assays that will ultimately aid in the development of reliable diagnostic tests gives us an opportunity to address serious unmet needs in oncology.”

Vermillion will continue to provide financial support, technical assistance and access to its advanced technology platforms, while Johns Hopkins will continue to contribute cancer serum samples and the clinical and scientific expertise of its physicians and scientists.

Vermillion has diagnostic programs in oncology, hematology, cardiology and women’s health with an initial focus in ovarian cancer.

In other dealmaking:

• Linc Facility Services (Washington) reported acquiring Morse Medical (Bellevue, Washington), the largest independent clinical technology maintenance and management service organization in the Pacific Northwest.

Linc said the acquisition is part of its plan to strengthen its healthcare service portfolio and expand its geographic footprint.

Morse has 10 service centers across the Puget Sound. Its services span everything from basic field service for physician offices to complete turnkey solutions for hospital and healthcare systems.

“[T]he transaction will broaden our reach on the West Coast, as well as expand the range of medical equipment services we offer medical facilities,” said Phil Rogers, president of Linc.

Morse will merge into Technology in Medicine, but will continue to do business as Morse Medical. The company will be branded as “A Linc Facility Services Company” and become a part of the commercial division.

• Odyssey HealthCare (Dallas) reported that the U.S. antitrust waiting period has expired in connection with its previously disclosed $147.1 million purchase of VistaCare (Scottsdale, Arizona) (MDD, Jan. 17, 2008).

The pending acquisition has been structured as a two-step deal: a cash tender offer for all outstanding shares of VistaCare common stock, then a cash merger in which Odyssey would acquire any remaining shares of VistaCare common stock.

Odyssey, through its subsidiaries, began the tender offer on Jan. 30 to purchase all of the outstanding shares of Class A common stock of VistaCare for $8.60 a share. The tender offer is set to expire at midnight, EDT, on Feb. 27.

Odyssey says it is a large U.S. provider of hospice care in terms of both average daily patient census and number of locations.