Exclusive option agreement signed for novel companion biomarker to monitor glaucoma

Q BioMed, a biomedical acceleration and development company, has signed an exclusive option agreement with Washington University in St Louis for a novel companion biomarker for monitoring glaucoma.

Under the terms of the agreement, Q BioMed will evaluate the feasibility and usability of growth differentiation factor (GDF)-15 as a companion diagnostic to the MAN-01 small molecule that is currently being optimised for the topical treatment of glaucoma.

“The ophthalmology in general and glaucoma sector specifically are currently in an active consolidation and business development cycle. Having access to a truly innovative technology that compliments ours as a companion diagnostic could greatly enhance the value of the Mannin Research MAN-01 technology,” emphasized Denis Corin, CEO of Q BioMed. “We are excited to evaluate this technology and look forward to a new collaborative partnership with a leading institution like Washington University School of Medicine.”

It is estimated that glaucoma — a leading cause of blindness worldwide — will affect nearly 100 million people by the year 2020. Disease progression is usually monitored through a visual field test, but so far there has not been a reliable way to measure which patients have a high risk or rapid vision loss.

Researchers at Washington University School of Medicine have identified a marker of damage to cells in the eye that potentially could be used to monitor progression of the disease and the effectiveness of treatment — GDF-15. This biomarker represents an attractive option for glaucoma with distinct advantages over clinical tests and has the potential to be a first-in-class diagnostic test.