ANGLE PLC (AIM:AGL, OTCQX:ANPCY), a leader in liquid biopsy technology, has signed a supplier agreement with AstraZeneca PLC (LSE:AZN) to develop an androgen receptor (AR) detection assay to enhance prostate cancer studies.
An extension of a prior arrangement to develop a methodology for detecting CTC micronuclei, the latest collaboration will use ANGLE's innovative Parsortix system.
With a contract value of £550,000, the project is scheduled for completion in the first quarter of next year.
Successful development of this AR assay is expected to bolster the use of the Parsortix system in clinical oncology, particularly for assessing the efficacy of prostate cancer therapies.
Additionally, the ability to monitor AR status through minimally invasive methods could transform patient management in clinical trials and follow-up care, particularly in the context of the over 130 active interventional oncology clinical studies involving AR assessment.
"This is further validation of ANGLE's Parsortix system which shows potential for long-term large-scale revenues in bringing innovative new cancer drugs to the market," said ANGLE's CEO, Andrew Newland.
"We anticipate that success in this first phase of assay development may lead to much larger contracts for use of the assay in clinical trials."