Biomarkers missing the mark(et)

Some biomarker service companies are looking to restructure their business plans, concluding that the uptake and prices for their technology will not support consequential valuations. Thus, while finding biomarkers is technically feasible and ultimately will likely be the rule rather than the exception for drug development, the biomarker specialists may turn out to have been a few years ahead of their time.

"We're considering stopping offering biomarkers as a collaborative partnership with pharma and turning to developing drugs for our own account," said Lloyd Segal, president and CEO of Caprion Pharmaceuticals Inc. (Montreal, Quebec). "There's been a lot of talk about biomarkers, but very few are really doing it." ...