Diagnostics & Imaging Week Contributing Editor And D&IWs

Barco (Kortrijk, Belgium), a provider of medical imaging solutions, said it plans to partner with Medicsight (London) to integrate the UK firm’s Colon CAD image-analysis software tools into Barco’s Voxar 3D ColonMetrix virtually colonography application.

In June, Barco received 510(k) clearance from the FDA for its Voxar 3D advanced visualization suite with image recognition software that allows radiologists to rapidly interpret a CT colonography study and generate a report.

The image-analysis software developed by Medicsight is used for virtual colonography scans to detect and segment abnormalities within the colon, such as adenomatous polyps. The computer-assisted detection capability of ColonCAD is expected to further enhance the functionality of Barco’s colonography application.

The report of the partnership with Barco follows fast on the heels of Medicsight’s demonstration in June with Viatronix (Stony Brook, New York) of mits detection software at the annual meeting of the European Society of Gastronintestinal and Abdominal Radiology in Lisbon, Portugal.

Piet Candeel, senior VP of Barco’s Medical Imaging Division, said the integration of his company’s and Medicsight’s software capabilities “will bring an effective answer to the ever-increasing reliance on virtual colonoscopy with CAD.”

Barco reported 2006 sales of 1751 million ($1.1 billion).

Clinical Data acquires Epidauros

Clinical Data (Newton, Massachusetts) said it has acquired privately-held Epidauros Biotechnologie (Bernried, Germany), for 18.75 million (about $11.84 million) in cash.

The U.S. firm said Epidauros brings “an established portfolio of proprietary genetic biomarkers, expertise in genetic biomarker discovery, relationships with leading diagnostic companies, and a fast-growing pharmacogenomics services business.”

Among the strategic assets acquired by Clinical Data in the transaction is a “significant intellectual property portfolio” that includes biomarkers in genes relating to prominent drug transporters such as MDR1(1), OCT1(2), MRP1(3) and what it called “important” cytochrome P450 drug-metabolizing genes, such as CYP2B6(4) and CYP2D6(5).

Clinical Data said MDR1 encodes P-glycoprotein, a key protein involved in drug transport that is known to modulate drug disposition. It said the genes CYP2B6, OCT1 and MRP1 are implicated in the absorption, distribution and metabolism of many drugs that span a variety of therapeutic classes and indications, “and are likely to be important in both response and safety profiles for these drugs.”

Drew Fromkin, president/CEO of Clinical Data, said, “We are pleased to have completed this highly strategic transaction, which we believe will enhance [our] ability to bring valuable, proprietary pharmacogenetic tests to market. Epidauros’ intellectual property portfolio holds great promise in critical areas related to drug transport and distribution. In turn, these genetic markers should play a significant role in better understanding drug response in individuals.”

He added that the acquisition “also brings to us the assets, know-how and staff for which Epidauros is so well-respected. In particular, Epidauros will provide Clinical Data with additional scientific expertise, biotechnology partnering capabilities and a deep understanding of European clinical markets. Epidauros has grown its pharmacogenetic services business in support of the pharmaceutical and biotechnology industries and earned a reputation for excellence throughout Europe and the U.S.

Michael Lutz, PhD, CEO of Epidauros, has agreed to join Clinical Data’s PGxHealth unit as senior VP of pharmacogenetic partnerships, which Clinical Data said would “further advance the combined abilities of the two companies and expand [our] clinical testing and targeted therapeutics programs.”

He added: “We welcome the opportunity to become a part of Clinical Data and are excited to join forces and work toward building the world’s leading pharmacogenetic enterprise. At Epidauros, we are proud of our history of innovation and our track record with respect to providing pharmacogenetic solutions to many partners. We can now further leverage Epidauros’ and Cogenics’ support of pharmaceutical trials with our leading pharmaceutical clients.”

Lutz said that together, the companies have supported more than 1,000 clinical trials over the past several years. “Moreover, the combination of Clinical Data’s and our expertise and intellectual property will greatly enhance the collective ability of the companies to develop companion diagnostics to guide drug development and prescribing.”

Munir Pirmohamed, professor of clinical pharmacology at the University of Liverpool, who collaborates with researchers at both companies, said the deal “combines the forces of two well-known companies in this field and provides the infrastructure and expertise to improve the evidence base that is needed to incorporate pharmacogenetic diagnostics into clinical practice.”

Clinical Data’s PGxHealth division focuses on genetic test and biomarker development to help predict drug safety and efficacy, thereby reducing healthcare costs and improving clinical outcomes. Its Cogenics division provides molecular and pharmacogenomics services to both research and regulated environments, and the Vital Diagnostics division offers in vitro diagnostics solutions for the clinical laboratory.

Saliva Sampler gets high marks

StatSure Diagnostic Systems (Framingham, Massachusetts) said that its Saliva Sampler was selected by the National Public Health Institute of Finland (Helsinki) as the standard for sampling oral fluid/saliva in all tasks in the DRUID (EU-funded research project DRiving Under Influence of Drugs, alcohol and medicines) study.

Results of the study are being presented at the International Association of Forensic Toxicologists conference in Seattle this week.

The results of the study emphasize the impact of the selection of the oral fluid collection device on the whole toxicological procedure, StatSure said. It said its Saliva Sampler gave best results for recovery (more than 80% for all substances), for stability, was quick to use, and got good user comments.

The company said that as a result of being chosen by DRUID, it has been receiving initial purchase orders from 12 countries throughout Europe.