Centogene Expands Partnership with Agios to Generate Novel Insights into Rare Blood Diseases

Centogene said it has expanded its partnership with Agios Pharmaceuticals to provide genetic testing and clinical trial support for Agios’ three global, pivotal trials in thalassemia and sickle cell disease.

Photo: Andrin Oswald, CEO of Centogene

Thalassemia is an inherited blood disorder where the inherited mutations in hemoglobin genes cause the body to produce less hemoglobin than normal, which is essential in enabling red blood cells to carry oxygen, resulting in severe anemia and related complications.

Sickle cell disease is an inherited red blood cell disorder that is caused by the presence of a mutated form of hemoglobin, which blocks off blood vessels. As a result, blood is unable to properly flow, which can lead to severe pain and organ damage.

Under a previous agreement, Centogene provided support for Agios’ pyruvate kinase (PK) deficiency clinical program. Pyruvate kinase (PK) deficiency is a rare, inherited disease that presents as chronic hemolytic anemia, which is the accelerated destruction of red blood cells.

The companies signed a commercial three-year fee-for-service agreement. Agios will be coordinating and bearing the costs for the programs; further financial details were not disclosed. This collaboration will offer patients access to genetic testing to help identify causative mutations, including HBA1, HBA2, and HBB genes. Agios’ global clinical trials will enroll patients in North America, Europe, MENA, APAC, and LATAM. Samples will be collected using Centogene’s proprietary CentoCard for dried blood spot analysis.

A key asset to the partnership is Centogene’s unique rare disease-centric Bio/Databank, which is positioned to accelerate precise diagnosis and continue to build novel insights into the genetic factors causing rare diseases.

“With our globally leading Bio/Databank of rare diseases, we are the partner of choice in discovery and development of rare disease treatments. Our data-driven insights enable both acceleration and de-risking of clinical trials,” said Andrin Oswald, CEO of Centogene. “Combining both Centogene’s expertise in genetics and unique global insights will lead to a better understanding of the disease biology of those rare diseases. This partnership will support the advancement of Agios’ first-in-class PK activator as a potential therapy for thalassemia and sickle cell disease, two under-served patient communities in need of new treatment options.”

Author: Rare Daily Staff