Leica Biosystems and Synthon Biopharmaceuticals Partner to Develop a Companion Diagnostic Program for Targeted Cancer Therapies

NEWCASTLE-UPON-TYNE, England, March 12, 2013 /PRNewswire/ --

• Leica Biosystems and Synthon Biopharmaceuticals announce partnership to develop a companion diagnostic test for solid tumors
• Leica Biosystems will develop a fully automated tissue-based companion diagnostic test to run on the BOND™ automated advanced staining systems
• Synthon strengthens its innovative drug pipeline with the development of a companion diagnostic test
• This agreement provides framework for further collaboration projects
  

Leica Biosystems and Synthon Biopharmaceuticals, a subsidiary of specialty pharma company Synthon, today announced an agreement to collaborate on the development and commercialization of a companion diagnostic test using the Leica BOND system, paired with one of Synthon Biopharmaceutical's antibody-drug conjugates (ADCs), to enhance the treatment of solid tumors.

"We are pleased to be working with Synthon Biopharmaceuticals on cancer therapies with the Leica BOND platform," added Matthias Weber, President of Leica Biosystems, MD.  "This partnership with Synthon is the next example of our commitment to provide unique tests to support the management of cancer patients. The ease of use and high staining quality of our BOND systems makes them ideal platforms on which to deploy these very informative tests."

Dr. Leon Hooftman, Chief Medical Officer at Synthon, comments: "Synthon is committed to develop a best-in-class ADC. This collaboration with Leica Biosystems will support us in delivering on that ambition."

About Leica Biosystems

Leica Biosystems is a global leader in workflow solutions and automation, striving to advance cancer diagnostics to improve patients' lives. Leica Biosystems provides anatomical pathology laboratories and researchers a comprehensive product range for each step in the pathology process, from sample preparation and staining to imaging and reporting. Leica's work program will be led from their new Companion Diagnostics Research and Development site in Danvers, Greater Boston, Massachusetts, with kit manufacturing occurring in Newcastle. Leica's easy-to-use and consistently reliable offerings help improve workflow efficiency and diagnostic confidence. The company is represented in over 100 countries. It has manufacturing facilities in 6 countries, sales and service organizations in 19 countries, and an international network of dealers. The company is headquartered in Nussloch, Germany. Further information can be found at http://www.LeicaBiosystems.com

About Synthon

Synthon, with headquarters in Nijmegen, the Netherlands is an international pharmaceutical company and a leader in the field of generic medicines. Synthon has been working in biotechnology since 2007 and is developing rapidly into a specialty pharmaceutical company, focusing on the therapeutic areas of auto-immune diseases - particularly multiple sclerosis - and oncology. Our products are currently approved by regulatory agencies in over 80 countries worldwide and marketed through strategic partnerships and - in dedicated areas - through direct sales. Synthon employs about 1,400 staff worldwide, and in 2011 it recorded a turnover of EUR 260 million. For more information, go to http://www.synthon.com.  

http://www.LeicaBiosystems.com

SOURCE Leica Biosystems