Life Technologies has signed an agreement with GlaxoSmithKline to develop a diagnostic to be used as a companion test with a GSK candidate cancer immunotherapy. Life will develop a qPCR-based molecular diagnostic assay for GSK's MAGE-A3 cancer immunotherapy candidate designed to identify patients likely to benefit from the immunotherapy.

MAGE-A3 candidate immunotherapy is currently being evaluated in two clinical trials. The phase III clinical study MAGRIT is evaluating its efficacy and safety as an adjuvant treatment in resected non-small cell lung cancer.  The phase III clinical study DERMA is evaluating the efficacy and safety of the MAGE-A3 candidate immunotherapy as an adjuvant treatment in patients whose melanoma invaded lymph nodes.

Life's companion assay will be a multi-gene expression qPCR-based in vitro diagnostic assay designed to act as an aid in the assessment of patients who are more likely to benefit from treatment with MAGE-A3 candidate cancer immunotherapy.

Life's companion diagnostic will be developed utilizing the company's robust Taqman Array Card (TAC) technology. It is not available or intended for any animal or human therapeutic or diagnostic use.  The companion diagnostic assays developed using the technology will be submitted for premarket approval by FDA.

Under the terms of the agreement Life Technologies, in conjunction with GSK and upon validation in the current phase III trial, will develop and commercialize the qPCR-based test to detect MAGE-A3 positive patients most likely to benefit from MAGE-A3 ASCI.  Financial and other terms of the deal were not disclosed.