Agendia and Agilent Technologies Announce Plans to Jointly Develop New Diagnostic Tests, Extend Supply Agreement

AMSTERDAM, The Netherlands, and SANTA CLARA, Calif.-
Agendia BV, a world leader in the rapidly evolving field of molecular diagnostics, and Agilent Technologies Inc. (NYSE: A), today announced terms under which they intend to collaborate to develop new in-vitro diagnostic tests. In addition, the two companies announced an agreement in which Agendia products will continue to be supplied on Agilent microarrays through Dec. 31, 2011. Agilent has been manufacturing the components for the Agendia assay since its inception in 2003. The financial terms of the agreement were not disclosed.

“We’ve established and enjoyed a strong business relationship with Agilent since the incorporation of Agendia,” said Dr. Bernhard Sixt, CEO and co-founder of Agendia. “These activities, including joint research and development, have allowed our two companies to forge an even closer strategic alliance focused on Agendia’s core competencies, namely the discovery of biomarkers and development of new diagnostic tests for clinical use, which are regulated under the new IVDMIA guidelines of the FDA.”

“We’re proud that Agendia has selected Agilent to move forward with their critical work in diagnosing breast cancer,” said Yvonne Linney, Ph.D., vice president and general manager, Genomics at Agilent. “We eagerly anticipate expanding our role beyond the manufacturing of Agendia products on the Agilent microarrays to helping them build validated diagnostic cancer tests, as well as developing and expanding the company’s worldwide distribution channels.”

Last year, Agendia’s MammaPrint, a molecular diagnostic tool developed to help physicians make informed decisions in treating breast cancer, became the first IVDMIA microarray-based diagnostic test cleared by the United States Food and Drug Administration (FDA). The tests, which are manufactured on Agilent microarrays, are performed at Agendia’s laboratory in The Netherlands. Agendia also offers DiscoverPrint, a gene expression-based service for improving the efficacy of clinical trials, and CupPrint, a diagnostic test designed to identify the origin of a metastasis in a cancer type called “Cancer of Unknown Primary.” These are also manufactured using Agilent microarrays.

Both companies will share information about their research into genetic biomarkers and jointly assess the commercial potential of each opportunity.