Idera Picks Abbott to Create CDx for B-Cell Lymphoma Candidate

Idera Pharmaceuticals has teamed up with Abbott to create a companion diagnostic for its lead drug candidate, IMO-8400, which is designed to treat certain genetically defined forms of B-cell lymphoma.

According to the Cambridge, Mass., biotech startup, the in vitro test will use polymerase chain reaction technology to identify the MYD88 L265P mutation in highly sensitive tumor biopsy samples with high specificity.

"This companion diagnostic will be an important tool for the clinical community in evaluating whether their patients are potential candidates for IMO-8400 therapy for the treatment of these genetically defined forms of B-cell lymphoma." said Lou Brenner, senior vice president and chief medical officer at Idera.

Idera reported results in April showing IMO-8400’s ability to stop the spread and survival of B-cell lymphoma cells that contain the MYD88 L265P mutation, which helps to activate the toll-like receptor pathways targeted by IMO-8400, a synthetic oligonucleotide-based antagonist of TLRs 7, 8, and 9.

About 90 percent of patients with Waldenström's macroglobulinemia and 30 percent of patients with the ABC sub-type of diffuse large B-cell lymphoma, Idera said. — Kellen Owings

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