Definiens Launches Biomarker Datafication Services

By Bio-IT World Staff

May 29, 2015 | Definiens today launched a new suite of Biomarker Datafication Services for oncology clinical development programs. The package provides image analysis screening of tissue samples for exploratory screening, pharmacokinetics/pharmacodynamics, and companion diagnostic development.

Definiens’ image analysis tools and their promise in patient stratification and companion diagnostics were the main driver behind AstraZeneca’s purchase of the company last November. The pharma purchased Definiens through MedImmune, its global biologics and research arm.

“It can be challenging to determine which biomarkers or indications to move into clinical development,” said Merrilyn Datta, president of Definiens, in a statement. “The Biomarker Datafication Services package is Definiens’ solution for the clinical development market. It enables researchers working with human tissue samples to define cutpoints for patient stratification, such as clearly defining the complex contextual relationships in the tumor microenvironment that are relevant to patient response. Ultimately this tool provides researchers with better data so they can be sure they’re moving the biomarkers and indications with the highest probability of success into clinical trials.”

By providing high quality image analysis screening for fast and quantitative measurement, users of the services can receive powerful data output including biomarker expression profiles, biological response to therapy and continuous biomarker readouts, allowing highly advanced decision making and data analysis.

Definiens’ Biomarker Datafication Services provide preliminary image analysis screening for fast and quantitative measurements to compare biomarker expression profiles across indications, enabling researchers to determine the strongest biomarker signals for clinical development and companion diagnostics. The solution also provides quantitative image analysis measurements of biological responses to therapy in Phase I, giving pharmaceutical and biotech companies a thorough understanding of therapy performance before investing in Phase II.