Covance Expands Diagnostic Products and Services

Covance Research Products (Princeton, NJ, USA) announced that it has acquired substantially all of the assets of Signet Laboratories Inc. (Dedham, MA, USA) for U.S.$8.95 million. Signet specializes in the development of monoclonal antibodies and diagnostic assays for cancer, infectious diseases, and neurodegenerative diseases.

Covance is a provider of innovative antibody products and a full range of immunology services and preclinical testing in animal models. The company also provides purpose-bred research animals and surgical services, including vascular access ports and telemetry implants.

"This acquisition strengthens Covance's leadership position in providing antibodies and detection reagents that support early drug development discovery work,” said Joe Herring, Covance chairman and CEO. "These new service offerings will allow us to tap into commercial opportunities in the pharmaceutical and clinical diagnostics markets. We look forward to integrating these new products and services in our drug development portfolio, and in particular with our industry leading preclinical and central laboratory services.”

Signet's portfolio includes markers such as D2-40, Cyclin D1, Cyclin E, HE4 and Hepsin. They have produced two new monoclonal antibodies, L1 clone 14.10 and PTEN clone 6H2.1. The mouse monoclonal anti-L1 clone recognizes the L1 transmembrane protein that belongs to the immunoglobulin supergene family. L1 may be overexpressed in a variety of carcinomas and appears to be a marker of unfavorable prognosis in a variety of malignancies.

Clone 6H2.1 recognizes PTEN (phosphatase and tensin homolog) a tumor-suppressor protein that is encoded by a gene located on chromosome 10. PTEN mutations have been observed in a wide range of cancers.



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