Myriad announces diabetes collaboration with Sanofi

Myriad Genetics (Nasdaq:MYGN) announced today that Myriad RBM, a wholly owned subsidiary of Myriad Genetics, has entered into a research collaboration with Sanofi, a global and diversified healthcare leader, and Population Health Research Institute (PHRI) at Hamilton Health Sciences and McMaster University. Through this collaboration, Myriad RBM will perform protein biomarker research for the Outcome Reduction with Initial Glargine Intervention (ORIGIN) study, the world’s longest and largest randomized clinical trial in pre- and early diabetes. The relationship between the biomarker results and clinical outcomes will be analyzed by investigators at PHRI.

As part of the agreement, Myriad RBM will analyze over 8,000 serum samples collected in the ORIGIN study using its DiscoveryMAP® 250+ quantitative immunoassay panel. Sanofi conceived of the application of Myriad RBM’s technology to ORIGIN with a goal of identifying biomarker profiles that may optimize treatment and improve patient care.

“We are pleased to be partnering with Sanofi and PHRI, world leaders in diabetes research, on this critical study,” said Craig Benson, President of Myriad RBM. “We believe this collaboration will result in better care for millions of patients with diabetes; a global epidemic that remains a critical unmet medical need.”

Funded by Sanofi and directed and managed by PHRI, ORIGIN is a unique, six-year landmark cardiovascular (CV) outcomes trial, that evaluated Lantus® (insulin glargine) versus standard care in over 12,500 individuals at high CV risk with pre-diabetes or early type 2 diabetes mellitus. Spanning 40 countries worldwide, it was the world’s longest and largest randomized clinical trial of its type in this population.

“This biomarker project using DiscoveryMAP is a logical extension of the landmark ORIGIN study,” said Dr. Matt McQueen, Research Laboratory Director, PHRI. “The measurement of hundreds of relevant proteins in metabolic, inflammatory and other important pathways has the potential to improve treatment protocols for diabetes.”

This collaboration could represent up to $10 million in companion diagnostic service revenue for Myriad over the next two fiscal years. Additionally, this agreement was contemplated in the Company’s Companion Diagnostic