NEW YORK – Swedish biotechnology firm Biovica said Thursday that the firm and an undisclosed pharmaceutical company have signed a master service agreement that will allow use of Biovica's cell proliferation assay and testing services in drug development studies starting with a work order worth SEK 1.7 million ($166,000).
Other terms of the deal were not disclosed.
The firm said the deal is focused on the firm's DiviTum TKa assay for the determination of cell proliferation through the measurement in blood of thymidine kinase activity. The test is used to monitor the treatment of metastatic breast cancer patients, and it has received US Food and Drug Administration 510(k) clearance and CE marking.
Biovica CEO Anders Rylander said in a statement that the agreement demonstrates pharma interest in using the company's assay during drug development activities to measure changes in tumor cell proliferation, and the deal could lead to development of a companion diagnostic product. Biovica will provide its TKa assay and expertise in the interpretation of TKA measurements.
"It is an important step for Biovica to support pharma in the development of new improved cancer therapies that benefit cancer patients," he said.