UK-based liquid biopsy company ANGLE plc (AIM:AGL) (OTCQX:ANPCY) announced on Tuesday that it has secured a contract with Japanese pharmaceutical company Eisai (TYO:4523).

Valued at USD250,000, the agreement entails ANGLE providing circulating tumour cell (CTC) analysis using its Portrait HER2 assay for breast cancer patients in a Phase II study of the HER2 (human epidermal growth factor receptor 2) targeting antibody-drug conjugate (ADC) BB-1701. A successful pilot study could pave the way for extensive follow-up studies.

The Portrait HER2 assay facilitates the quantitative assessment of both HER2 protein expression and HER2/neu gene amplification. This aids in identifying patients suitable for anti-HER2 ADC treatment.

HER2-low breast cancer accounts for 55% of all breast cancer cases. Recognising the market shift towards HER2-low patients, ANGLE has developed a quantitative HER2 assay to ensure accurate patient stratification throughout the treatment journey.

"The use of CTC biomarkers in clinical trials is a rapidly growing field enabling longitudinal monitoring of genomic, transcriptomic and proteomic changes," said ANGLE CEO Andrew Newland. "ANGLE's Portrait HER2 assay provides a way to evaluate HER2 status in patients where a tissue biopsy at the metastatic site either fails or is not feasible."

Analysts predict the global HER2+ breast cancer ADC market will reach USD3.3bn annually by 2030.