Almac Announces Collaborative Study with Pfizer and the PETACC3 Translational Research Working Party (PTRW)

CRAIGAVON, NORTHERN IRELAND-May 21, 2009)-Almac Diagnostics has today announced a collaborative study between Almac, Pfizer and the PETACC3 Translational Research Working Party (PTRW) The study involves gene expression profiling of formalin-fixed paraffin-embedded (FFPE) samples from the Pan-European Trials in Adjuvant Colon Cancer (PETACC 3) trial using Almac Diagnostic's unique Colorectal Cancer DSA(TM) research tool to identify molecular subtypes, biomarkers and drug targets.

Colorectal cancer is the third most common cancer diagnosed in both men and women in the United States and Europe and is the second most common cause of cancer mortality in both sexes.

The samples to be used in the study are taken from the PETACC 3 study, an international randomized, prospective trial of adjuvant chemotherapy in patients with stage II and III colon cancer. This study represents a unique resource in advancing the molecular understanding of colon cancer.
Prof. Paul Harkin, President and Managing Director of Almac Diagnostics stated "As understanding grows of the heterogeneity of cancer, it is becoming increasingly clear that molecular subtypes are important both in patients' prognosis and in predicting their response to chemotherapy. This has already been shown in breast cancer, and the study to be led by Almac, Pfizer and PTRW aims to examine this in colorectal cancer."

The aims of the study are to identify molecular subtypes in colorectal cancer and to identify new drug targets in treatment resistant patients.