ANGLE PLC (AIM:AGL, OTCQX:ANPCY) said it has inked a deal with Crescendo Biologics, a clinical-stage immuno-oncology firm, to provide the liquid biopsy specialist's cutting-edge Portrait Flex Assay for a prostate cancer study.
The process will be used in Crescendo's phase I clinical trial investigating the safety and efficacy of CB307, a first-in-class treatment for patients with prostate-specific membrane antigen (PSMA) positive solid tumours.
No financial details were given.
Launched in late 2022, the Portrait Flex Assay detects circulating tumour cells (CTCs) and those undergoing epithelial-mesenchymal transition (EMTing) – known factors in cancer metastasis and drug resistance.
With high sensitivity and specificity, the assay also allows customers to add bespoke protein biomarkers to cater to their specific needs.
The partnership will see Crescendo utilising the test in the cohort expansion phase of its clinical study, sending patient samples to ANGLE's laboratories for processing and analysis using the Parsortix system.
In a statement, ANGLE Founder and chief executive, Andrew Newland, said: "The use of CTC biomarkers in clinical trials is a rapidly growing field, facilitating the identification of druggable targets as well as providing prognostic information, predicting treatment response, resistance, and patient relapse.
"We are delighted that Crescendo Biologics has adopted our new Portrait Flex assay and we will seek opportunities to expand our relationship going forward. Our menu of Parsortix-based CTC assays is building and the pipeline of potential pharma services customers is growing as a result."