IPSOGEN, a leading molecular diagnostic company based in France and Connecticut, announced that it has signed a co-exclusive license agreement with XENOMICS (Pink Sheets: XNOM), a developer of next-generation medical DNA diagnostic technologies, based in USA. The license enables IPSOGEN to develop, manufacture and commercialize research and diagnostic products based on the analysis of NPM1 mutations for the stratification and monitoring of patients with Acute Myeloid Leukemia (AML).

AML is a clinically and molecularly heterogeneous disease with about 13,500 new cases per year in the US and a similar number in Europe. The disease subgrouping by cytogenetic karyotyping indicates patient prognosis. However, in almost half of AML cases the karyotype appears normal. A recent discovery by Drs. Falini and Mecucci at the Institute of Hematology at the University of Perugia in Italy showed that about 60% of adult AML with normal karyotype have a mutation in the nucleophosmin (NPM1) gene.

"This agreement with XENOMICS, a leading company developing innovative DNA-based tests, enables IPSOGEN to further expand its unique range of diagnostic products dedicated to the disease management of blood cancers" said Vincent Fert, president and CEO of IPSOGEN. "NPM1 products will integrate IPSOGEN quantitative and standardized technology (FusionQuant® and ProfileQuant®) to warrant the highest level of precision and quality for clinical laboratories and patients. The NPM1 test results have the potential to help physicians with prognosis of the disease and with the monitoring of the patient response to therapy".

"We look…