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OncoMethylome Sciences Announces Licensing and Testing Agreement with Merck KGaA
OncoMethylome's Technology to Be Used in Merck's Clinical Trial Program with Cilengitide

11 Jun 2008 - OncoMethylome Sciences announced that it has signed a licensing and testing agreement with Merck KGaA of Darmstadt, Germany. Under the terms of the agreement, OncoMethylome will provide MGMT gene promoter methylation testing services for Merck's clinical trial program of cilengitide. As part of the agreement, Merck received a worldwide, non-exclusive license from OncoMethylome to use the results of the OncoMethylome MGMT gene promoter methylation assay for optimizing glioblastoma multiforme (GBM) treatment with cilengitide. Financial terms of the agreement are not disclosed.
 
Herman Spolders, CEO of OncoMethylome commented, "We are very pleased that Merck has determined that testing for MGMT gene promoter methylation is a very important component of this clinical trial program. This agreement represents another milestone in our efforts to establish the clinical value of methylation biomarkers for aiding physicians in optimizing the treatment decision-making process and confirms market interest in our companion diagnostic products."