1. In Vivo
  2. >>Archive

Roche's End Run Into the Cervical Cancer Screening Market

The announcement of a merger between Digene, the maker of the only FDA-approved test for HPV, and Cytyc disappointed diagnostics giant Roche, Digene's European distributor. Roche had also contemplated a more strategic relationship with Digene. But it had a back-up plan. In June, it bought Institut Pasteur's HPV IP portfolio, which includes rights to some of Digene's markers. Now, Roche will go head to head with Digene in what may be one of the first significant battles between two molecular diagnostics platforms.

When Roche Molecular Systems Inc. (RMS, the molecular diagnostics division of Roche ), entered into an agreement last year with Digene Corp. to co-promote Digene's screening test for human papilloma virus [See Deal], it did so in contemplation of an eventual broader relationship with Digene. Indeed, the companies had already begun to explore the possibility of Roche acquiring Digene, which has a strong intellectual property portfolio of HPV markers and the only FDA-approved test for HPV—the cause of virtually all cervical cancer and a key women's health test. Adding HPV to its growing panel of molecular infectious disease tests was therefore an obvious goal for Roche.

Digene had other suitors, however, and in February 2002 it opted to merge with Cytyc Corp. [See Deal] (See...

Read the full article – start your free trial today!

Join thousands of industry professionals who rely on In Vivo for daily insights

  • Start your 7-day free trial
  • Explore trusted news, analysis, and insights
  • Access comprehensive global coverage
  • Enjoy instant access – no credit card required
Start Free Trial

Already a subscriber?

More from Archive

Final Chance To Have Your Say: Take Our Reader Survey This Week

 
• By Eleanor Malone

Editor’s note: This is your final call to participate in the survey to better understand our subscribers’ content and delivery needs. The deadline is 20 September.

Early Development Deals: Ipsen's Strategy For Biomarker-Driven Success

 
• By Eliza Slawther

Mary Jane Hinrichs, Ipsen’s head of early development, talks to In Vivo about getting ahead of the competition by securing deals for candidates before they enter Phase I trials.   

Shape Our Content: Take The Reader Survey

 
• By Eleanor Malone

Editor’s note: We are conducting a survey to better understand our subscribers’ content and delivery needs. If there are any changes you’d like to see in the coverage topics, content format or the method in which you receive and access In Vivo, or if you love it how it is, now is the time to have your voice heard.

In Partnership with Cerba Research

Prioritizing Safety in CAR-T Therapy: Patient Monitoring with Cerba Research’s Testing Portfolio

The cell and gene therapy (CGT) clinical trial landscape in general and CAR-T cell clinical trials in particular are a special focus for the FDA, EMA, and other regulatory agencies. The whole industry is thus aware of the recent FDA safety investigation and requirements for labeling CAR therapy products.

More from In Vivo

Crisis Or Opportunity? US MFN Policy Could Test Japan’s Appetite For Reforms

 
• By Lisa Takagi

While the adoption of most favored nation drug pricing in the US stands to affect Japanese biopharma firms now heavily reliant on this market, it might also present an opportunity for pricing and policy reforms at home.

Rising Leaders 2025: Ovid’s Meg Alexander On Neurology’s Next Frontier

 
• By Jo Shorthouse

Ovid Therapeutics' president and COO Meg Alexander is leading the company’s strategic pivot toward innovative neurological treatments, potentially creating a new class of medicines for rare neurological disorders.

The Goldilocks Isotope: Perspective Therapeutics’ ‘Just Right’ Alpha Radiotherapeutic

 
• By David Wild

Thijs Spoor's bet on lead-212 is paying off as Perspective Therapeutics advances three clinical programs with promising early efficacy signals and a comprehensive manufacturing strategy.