Shares digital

Stem cell technology group Epistem (EPH:AIM) has successfully completed a preliminary study with AstraZeneca (AZN) for the use of its proprietary, minimally-invasive plucked human hair biomarker technology to help guide drug oncology development.

The technology includes analysing gene expression change in RNA (ribonucleic acid, similar to DNA) extracted from the bulb of cells located at the base of a single human plucked hair, a process which can help identify biomarkers to aid decision-making in drug development. Results from this preliminary study have shown that single plucked hairs sampled over multiple time points provide effective levels of RNA for gene expression measurement.

More than 85% of hairs sampled were able to be evaluated for measurement. The hair biomarker is important because it provides a potentially powerful way of measuring the effects of new cancer treatments and can lead to more informed decisions being made at an earlier stage. Last year, The Biomarkers Consortium was established with the aim of identifying biomarkers to speed up the delivery of new clinical treatments and medicines for prevention, early diagnosis and treatment of disease. AstraZeneca is an active member of the consortium and, along with Epistem, plans to explore hair-follicle core gene sets based on drug-induced gene expression in pathways of interest for specific therapeutics. Shares in Epistem were unchanged at 155.5p.

Shares says: Encouraging trial results and shares are worth holding on to.

by: Rachel Robson