ANGLE PLC (AIM:AGL, OTCQX:ANPCY), the developer of a unique diagnostic focused on circulating tumour cells (CTCs) associated with cancer, has landed a contract with Eisai Inc, the Japanese pharma group, worth US$250,000.
The pilot study will utilise ANGLE’s Portrait HER2 assay in a phase II examination of the HER2 targeting antibody-drug conjugate (ADC), BB-1701.
The trial will focus on assessing the HER2 status of breast cancer patients. HER2, or human epidermal growth factor receptor 2, is a critical indicator in breast cancer prognosis and treatment.
ANGLE’s innovative assay allows for the quantitative assessment of HER2 protein expression and gene amplification, vital for identifying patients who could benefit from anti-HER2 ADC treatments.
The Portrait HER2 assay is particularly significant given that 55% of all breast cancer cases are classified as HER2-low. The global market for HER2+ breast cancer ADCs is expected to reach $3.3 billion annually by 2030.
This pilot study with Eisai Inc. could lead to multiple large-scale follow-up studies, marking an important milestone in breast cancer treatment and research, investors were told.
"The use of CTC biomarkers in clinical trials is a rapidly growing field enabling longitudinal monitoring of genomic, transcriptomic and proteomic changes," said chief executive Andrew Newland.
"ANGLE's Portrait HER2 assay provides a way to evaluate HER2 status in patients where a tissue biopsy at the metastatic site either fails or is not feasible.
"We are delighted that Eisai is utilising our new HER2 assay for this study and believe that a successful pilot study will lead the way to major expansion of this line of our business going forward."