On September 24, 2020 ONCOtracker, Inc and The Binding Site Group Ltd reported they have entered into an exclusive global license and collaboration agreement to develop a novel clinical laboratory test for measuring sBCMA, which has shown promise to monitor and predict outcomes for patients with common blood-based cancers including multiple myeloma (MM) and chronic lymphocytic leukemia (CLL) and other related conditions (Press release, OncoTracker, SEP 24, 2020, View Source [SID1234565592]).
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sBCMA was first discovered in 2011 by Dr. James Berenson and colleagues at The Institute for Myeloma and Bone Cancer Research (IMBCR). Dr. Berenson’s scientific and clinical research focuses on myeloma and has demonstrated that sBCMA is found at low levels in the serum of normal patients and is elevated among patients with MM and CLL in studies involving several thousand patients. Changes in sBCMA levels have also been found to occur rapidly and correlate with patients’ clinical status in response to treatment (Ghermezi et al. Haematologica 2017; Jew et al. Brit J Haematol 2020).
Under terms of the agreement, The Binding Site Group obtains a global exclusive license to develop and commercialize a sBCMA test for multiple myeloma, CLL and additional conditions. ONCOtracker which holds patented technology regarding the testing of this biomarker for multiple myeloma patients will continue to support The Binding Site’s sBCMA research and medical affairs efforts.
"We are thrilled to partner with The Binding Site Group, the leader in myeloma diagnostics and manufacturer of Freelite, the diagnostic standard of care in multiple myeloma. They are the perfect collaborator to further develop and commercialize the sBCMA biomarker test and an ideal match for ONCOtracker," said James Berenson, MD, Founder and President of ONCOtracker.
"Binding Site has a history of collaborating with exceptional scientists and developing the utility of new markers and technologies to aid in monoclonal gammopathy patient management. With the introduction of the Freelite assay, more recently with our Mass Spectrometry collaboration and now as we seek to understand the developing role of serum BCMA measurements, we have always sought to collaborate with innovative and passionate scientists. Therefore we are delighted to announce this collaboration and excited to work with Dr. Berenson and the OncoTracker team as we add another tool to the monoclonal gammopathy patient management armamentarium," said Dr. Stephen Harding, Chief Scientific Officer of The Binding Site Group.