Third Wave Technologies to collaborate on personalized heart care

Madison, Wis. - Third Wave Technologies, a Madison-based molecular diagnostics company, has signed a collaboration agreement with Laboratory Corporation of America Holdings to develop what it calls a groundbreaking diagnostic test that would help doctors personalize the treatment of heart failure.

The test, which is being developed with Third Wave's “Invader” molecular chemistry products, might be used in conjunction with the prescription of bucindolol, a next-generation beta blocker being developed by ARCA Discovery of Denver. Bucindolol could become the first genetically targeted cardiovascular drug.

New model

Laboratory Corporation of America, also known as LabCorp, is headquartered in Burlington, N.C. It is one of the world's largest clinical and reference laboratories, reporting $3.6 billion in annual revenue last year.

Kevin T. Conroy, president and chief executive of Third Wave, said in a release that the collaboration with LabCorp is a new model for the development and application of personalized drug therapies.

“We believe it will demonstrate the impact [that] clinical reference laboratories, diagnostics manufacturers, and pharmaceutical companies can have," he said, when working to affect patient outcomes and healthcare costs.

Genetic data

According to Third Wave, there is extensive efficacy and safety data for bucindolol in heart failure patients. This includes genetic data that ARCA will use to seek FDA approval in 2008 to target patients that are most likely to respond to the drug.

While ARCA has the exclusive global rights to bucindolol, LabCorp has acquired the exclusive right to develop and commercialize a companion diagnostic for bucindolol. Third Wave will collaborate with LabCorp on the development of the diagnostic in parallel with the drug's approval process.

The new test identifies common genetic variations of the receptors that regulate the human heart. A heart patient's response to bucindolol is affected by genetic variations.

Diagnostic targets

Third Wave reported $6 million in molecular diagnotics revenue in the first quarter of 2007. In addition to its work in cardiac care, the company has begun clinical trials for products designed to detect the human papillomavirus, which has been linked to cervical cancer.

The company has projected a market of $450 million for HPV diagnosis and treatment.

Related stories

• Third Wave files countersuit vs. Digene in patent case

• Third Wave reports net loss of $18.9M for 2006

• Third Wave seeks approval of Cystic Fibrosis test

• Third Wave's revenues rebound