Bristol-Myers Squibb, Biotech Partner on Alzheimer’s Test

(National Institute of Mental Health)

Opko Health Inc., a biotechnology company in Miami, Florida, said today it has a collaboration agreement with the drug manufacturer Bristol-Myers Squibb Company for Opko’s diagnostic test technology. Opko’s blood tests are being developed from its technology that identifies biomarkers for a range of diseases including neurodegenerative disorders.

Part of the project calls for Opko and Bristol-Myers Squibb to investigate the potential for Opko’s technology to diagnose Alzheimer’s disease and identify individuals with early stage cognitive impairment that can progress to Alzheimer’s disease. The 7 January 2011 issue of the journal Cell has an article by Opko and academic researchers describing the technology that screens Immunoglobulin G (IgG) antibodies with arrays of synthetic molecules to find disease biomarkers.

The Palm Beach Post reports yesterday that the initial research was done by researchers at University of Texas Southwest Medical Center in Dallas and Scripps Research Institute in Jupiter, Florida. Opko Health licensed the technology for further development and commercialization.

Read More: Engineers Develop Biomarker Breathalyzer Diagnostics

*     *     *