LONDON--(Marketwire -02/28/12)- Laboratories performing molecular or genetic diagnostic testing play a vital strategic role in the success of personalized medicine (PM), but are often the "forgotten" link, according to a new survey of 31 laboratories in five EU countries conducted by Labceutics, a division of Diaceutics, that provides value-enhancing laboratory networks and services for the PM industry.

"We wanted to better understand the barriers faced by laboratory leaders as they seek to partner with pharmaceutical companies in the development of companion diagnostic tests for PM," said Maria Fe Paz, Managing Director of Labceutics. "Laboratories' interest in early participation has important implications for the success of pharmaceutical companies' PM businesses."

Survey findings included:

Laboratories as PM stakeholders have been largely forgotten by pharmaceutical companies, which wrongly assume that diagnostic partners have sufficiently engaged laboratories; Unlike the US, Europe has a fragmented laboratory market with strong country personalities, therefore centralized approaches may be too disruptive; A decentralised laboratory strategy in Europe will enable a "high touch" service among laboratory managers or pathologists and physicians; One-size-fits-all laboratory testing plans or "kit" approaches will encounter slow uptake in Europe; Successful introduction of PM therapeutics and companion diagnostics must include early preplanning with laboratories.

"Labs are at the front line of implementing testing algorithms," said Ferdinand Hofstaedter, Professor of Pathology and Director of Institut Für Pathologie Der Universität Regensburg (Germany). "Our business planning must be done in concert with our competing pharmaceutical customers, so that everyone's marketing and financial goals are met."

Only a quarter of laboratories surveyed said they prefer to use an in vitro diagnostics (IVD) kit purchased from a diagnostic company to begin a new testing service. The remainder said they carefully review the test's business case before deciding on an approach, since so many diagnostics have low volumes in the initial three to five years.

The report will be published later this year. Representatives will be available to discuss it at TAT 2012, the International Congress on Targeted Anticancer Therapies, Amsterdam, The Netherlands, March 8-9, 2012.

Labceutics (www.labceutics.com) provides the pharmaceutical industry with a one-stop, value-enhancing laboratory service partner for high quality companion diagnostic testing for personalized medicine.

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