Transgene, Roche deal
Transgene and Roche's Ventana Medical Systems Inc. unit partnered to develop a companion diagnostic for Transgene's cancer candidate TG4010. Ventana will develop a mucin 1 ( MUC1; CD227) immunohistochemistry assay to select patients with MUC1-positive tumors for enrollment in a planned Phase IIb/III trial of TG4010 to treat advanced non-small cell lung cancer (NSCLC). The design of the trial, which is expected to start by year end, has yet to be finalized. TG4010 is a modified vaccinia Ankara (MVA) vector containing the MUC1 and IL-2 genes. The companies said Ventana would submit a PMA for the diagnostic in parallel to a possible NDA submission for TG4010. The diagnostic would be used to help physicians identify patients who can be treated with TG4010. Financial terms of the deal were not disclosed. ...