The Binding Site and ONCOtracker announce a global diagnostic license and collaboration on solubilised b-cell maturation antigen (sBCMA), a novel blood-based biomarker
sBCMA test may both monitor and predict outcomes in multiple myeloma and other blood cancers
ONCOtracker, Inc and The Binding Site Group Ltd today announced they have entered into an exclusive global license and collaboration agreement to develop a novel clinical laboratory test for measuring sBCMA, which has shown promise to monitor and predict outcomes for patients with common blood-based cancers including multiple myeloma (MM) and chronic lymphocytic leukemia (CLL) and other related conditions.
sBCMA was first discovered in 2011 by Dr. James Berenson and colleagues at The Institute for Myeloma and Bone Cancer Research (IMBCR). Dr. Berenson’s scientific and clinical research focuses on myeloma and has demonstrated that sBCMA is found at low levels in the serum of normal patients and is elevated among patients with MM and CLL in studies involving several thousand patients. Changes in sBCMA levels have also been found to occur rapidly and correlate with patients’ clinical status in response to treatment (Ghermezi et al. Haematologica 2017; Jew et al. Brit J Haematol 2020).
Under terms of the agreement, The Binding Site Group obtains a global exclusive license to develop and commercialize a sBCMA test for multiple myeloma, CLL and additional conditions. ONCOtracker which holds patented technology regarding the testing of this biomarker for multiple myeloma patients will continue to support The Binding Site’s sBCMA research and medical affairs efforts.
“We are thrilled to partner with The Binding Site Group, the leader in myeloma diagnostics and manufacturer of Freelite®, the diagnostic standard of care in multiple myeloma. They are the perfect collaborator to further develop and commercialise the sBCMA biomarker test and an ideal match for ONCOtracker,” said James Berenson, MD, Founder and President of ONCOtracker.
“Binding Site has a history of collaborating with exceptional scientists and developing the utility of new markers and technologies to aid in monoclonal gammopathy patient management. With the introduction of the Freelite assay, more recently with our Mass Spectrometry collaboration and now as we seek to understand the developing role of serum BCMA measurements, we have always sought to collaborate with innovative and passionate scientists. Therefore we are delighted to announce this collaboration and excited to work with Dr. Berenson and the OncoTracker team as we add another tool to the monoclonal gammopathy patient management armamentarium.” said Dr. Stephen Harding, Chief Scientific Officer of The Binding Site Group.
About ONCOtracker
ONCOtracker, Inc is a West Hollywood-based oncology company pursuing intellectual property for innovative treatments leading to dramatically improved outcomes. It is a leading incubator for cancer treatment innovations with a focus on the diagnosis and treatment of multiple myeloma, other B-cell malignancies and related disorders. It has exclusive rights to the serum B-Cell maturation antigen (sBCMA) blood test, which is being developed to monitor changes in tumor burden and predict therapeutic outcomes of multiple myeloma patients. sBCMA is being investigated for clinical application in chronic lymphocytic leukemia, B-cell lymphoma and select solid tumor malignancies. ONCOtracker has intellectual property related to novel treatment approaches for multiple myeloma, which are being pursued in ongoing clinical trials.