Parsortix DNA Damage Response Assays developed by Angle will be used in clinical trial

Angle plc, liquid biopsy company has today (May 25) announced that Artios Pharma has signed a new contract to use two DDR assays it developed in a phase 1 clinical trial expected to start soon.

Artios says it has an extensive DDR focused pipeline and strategic partnerships with global pharma companies. The company says it selected Angle to develop immunofluorescence assays using its Parsotix system to detect two specific biomarkers expressed on circulating tumor cells (CTCs). The expression of the two biomarkers indicates the amount of DNA damage caused in a cell.

Andrew Newland, Angle founder and chief executive, said: “We are delighted to have successfully developed these high-performance assays for Artios, a leader in the fast-growing field of DDR therapeutics.”

The markers can be observed in tumour tissue, but the availability of tumour tissue biopsy material is limited and cannot be repeated, emphasising the utility of CTCs obtained via liquid biopsy as an alternative means of assessing DNA damage.

Artios says it is using longitudinal monitoring of expression of these biomarkers in CTCs harvested using the Parsortix system to assess the pharmacodynamic effects and treatment response to new DDR drugs.

Angle said the successful development of these DDR assays (high levels of both sensitivity and specificity were achieved) was ‘technically challenging and a significant achievement’. Artios will now utilise the two assays in the phase 1 clinical trial expected to complete around the end of 2024.

The company anticipates that these assays could be employed in larger, later stage clinical trials for the same compound and potentially in further trials for additional compounds in the customer’s pipeline.

Newland continued: “This new contract for clinical trial services again represents significant repeat business from an existing customer and we believe there is potential to expand the relationship further. These new assays also provide an important addition to our pharma services menu where our unique solution has already generated a high level of interest from new potential customers.”

Angle says it can offer this CTC solution to the growing number of drug developers exploring the DDR pathway in drug trials. It said there are an estimated 105 drugs targeting the DDR pathway in development, with 123,000 patients currently enrolled in active clinical trials.