ICON, Proteome enter alliance to provide expanded biomarker solutions

ICON plc, a global provider of outsourced development services to the pharmaceutical, biotechnology and medical device industries, and Proteome Sciences (AIM:PRM) a leading provider of protein biomarker discovery, validation, and assay development services, today announced the formation of a strategic alliance to provide pharmaceutical companies with an expanded biomarker solution to allow earlier assessments in the development of new medicines.

Through the alliance with Proteome's PS Biomarker Services™, ICON is strengthening its current biomarker solution to include an integrated suite of labeling, separation and mass spectrometry technologies for protein and peptide profiling in complex biological materials.

ICON and Proteome Sciences are already engaged in their first joint project which is the development of a mass spectrometry assay for a key biomarker for an international pharmaceutical development company.

Commenting on the initiation of this project, John Allinson, VP Biomarker Lab Services, ICON Development Solutions stated: "We are extremely pleased to be entering this long-term partnership with Proteome Sciences which allows us to offer our clients access to state of the art protein and peptide profiling and rapid development of mass spectrometry assays through PS Biomarker Services™. This complements ICON's extensive portfolio of biomarker development and analysis services to help sponsors identify, implement and interpret the right biomarkers to inform their pre-clinical and clinical drug development."

Dr. Ian Pike, Proteome's Chief Operating Officer added: "We are delighted to be partnering with the team at ICON Development Solutions to provide their clients with a complete biomarker solution, including PS Biomarker Discovery Services™ as part of wider clinical development programs. The unique power of our proprietary technology platforms to identify and validate key protein biomarkers of disease and response to treatment is clearly being recognized and used by the pharmaceutical industry.