Cenix BioScience and Debiopharm Group Collaborate to Identify Predictive Biomarkers

LAUSANNE, Switzerland and DRESDEN, Germany, May 23, 2013 /PRNewswire/ --

Cenix BioScience, a leading preclinical contract research provider and technology developer specialized in RNAi-, miRNA- and high content-driven pharmacology, and Debiopharm Group™ (Debiopharm), a Swiss-based global biopharmaceutical group of companies with a focus on the development of prescription drugs that target unmet medical needs, including oncology and companion diagnostics, today announced that they have signed a research agreement to support Debiopharm in its ongoing efforts to develop novel therapeutic drug candidates.

Under the research framework's first project, Cenix will apply its leading expertise in combining high throughput screening with high content assays in cultured human cells, to identify predictive biomarkers for Debiopharm preclinical oncology candidates. Multi-parametric microscopy-based readouts established by Cenix using the Definiens XD image analysis platform will be used in a range of human cancer cell models to identify genes and pathways that either enhance or suppress the drug's therapeutic effects. As such, the study represents another important illustration of Debiopharm's ongoing drive to integrate cutting edge technologies and powerful post-genomic strategies towards further refining its personalized medicine approach towards the development of new therapeutics.

"We are very excited to launch this new relationship with Debiopharm, extending their repertoire with what we consider to be some of the most strategically powerful cell-based screening paradigms developed to date," said Dr. Christophe Echeverri, CEO/CSO of Cenix BioScience. "We deeply appreciate and are particularly gratified by this implied trust from yet another world-class and forward-leaning drug development organization, who also happens to be a long-standing expert in R&D outsourcing."

"We look forward to working with Cenix, whose specialist expertise, longstanding leadership and unrivaled track record in this field made them an ideal partner," commented Dr. Hiroaki Tanaka, Director of Personalized Medicine, Debiopharm. "The opportunity to benefit from such depth of knowledge, experience and extensively validated capabilities is considered as the most strategically important resource for preclinical biomarkers discovery."

About Cenix BioScience

With operations in Germany, Belgium and the U.S., Cenix BioScience conducts contract research and develops new reagent technologies focused on a wide array of preclinical cell-based and in vivo applications including RNAi-based gene silencing, miRNA modulation, compound testing, advanced genomics analyses and high content screening to accelerate drug discovery and development. Now in its 14^th year, Cenix has built up leading scientific and commercial track records, successfully advancing therapeutic programs for numerous top industry and academic partners in a broad range of disease fields. This success, illustrated by a high rate of repeat business from top clients, is anchored in the consistent application of industrial best practices within fully customized, multi-staged projects designed to offer maximal strategic value and accountability with carefully minimized risk and full data transparency. For more information, please visit the company's web site: http://www.cenix.com

About Debiopharm Group™

Debiopharm Group™ (Debiopharm) is a Swiss-based global biopharmaceutical group of companies with a focus on the development of prescription drugs that target unmet medical needs. The group in-licenses, develops and/or co-develops promising biological and small molecule drug candidates having reached clinical development phases I, II or III, as well as earlier stage candidates. It develops its products for global registration and maximum commercial potential. The products are out-licensed to pharmaceutical partners for sales and marketing. Debiopharm is also active in the field of companion diagnostics with a view to progressing in the area of personalized medicine. Debiopharm independently funds the worldwide development of all of its products while providing expertise in pre-clinical and clinical trials, manufacturing, drug delivery and formulation, and regulatory affairs.

For more information about Debiopharm Group™, please visit: http://www.debiopharm.com

Cenix and the Cenix BioScience logo are registered trademarks owned by Cenix BioScience GmbH.

Definiens XD and Definiens are registered trademarks owned by Definiens AG.

Debiopharm S.A. Contact
Beatrice Hirt
Communication Coordinator
[email protected]
Tel: +41-21-321-0111

Additional Media Contacts
In London
Maitland
Brian Hudspith
Tel: +44(0)20-7379-5151
[email protected]

In New York
Russo Partners, LLC
Martina Schwarzkopf, Ph.D.
Account Executive
Tel: +1-212-845-4292
Fax: +1-212-845-4260
[email protected]

Cenix EU Contact
Dr. Christoph Sachse
Director Cell-based Services
Tel: +49-351-4173-0
[email protected]

Cenix USA Contact
Dr. Sirid Kellermann
Director of Marketing
Tel: +1-650-996-9927
[email protected]

SOURCE The Debiopharm Group