PDI, Inc. subsidiary acquires thyroid, cancer diagnostic tests

Continuing its path in commercializing molecular diagnostic tests, PDI, Inc. announced its Interpace Diagnostics subsidiary has acquired the miRInform Thyroid and Pancreas cancer test from Asuragen, Inc., according to a press release.

MiRInform Thyroid, an assay comprised of 17 markers and recommended by the American Thyroid Association to detect genetic alterations associated with thyroid cancer, has been helpful in predicting disease progression.

Strong correlations were observed between the presence of the oncogenic mutations and malignancy, with post-test probability of cancer at 86 percent. Currently on the market, the test generated approximately $2 million in revenue in the past year.

MiRInform Pancreas, a microRNA test that has proven useful in detecting cancer in solid pancreatic tumors in a prospective clinical study, is ready for market and expected to launch in the first part of 2015.

The transaction comprises the tests, intellectual property and a biobank of more than 5,000 tissue samples, costing the New Jersey-based healthcare commercialization company $8 million in cash, along with future commercial payments and royalties.

With between 20% and 30% of thyroid biopsy samples obtained through FNA considered indeterminate following cytological analysis, MiRInform Thyroid can aid pathologists and endocrinologists in achieving accurate diagnoses and characterizing malignancy.

MiRInform Pancreas could help clinicians distinguish between chronic pancreatitis and cancer in solid masses, in light of the significant number of indeterminate diagnoses and up to 30% false negative rate for biopsies.