Centogene N.V., a commercial-stage company focused on generating data-driven insights into rare diseases, has expanded its partnership with Agios Pharmaceuticals, Inc., a leader in the field of cellular metabolism developing treatments for genetically defined diseases.
 
CENTOGENE will provide genetic testing and clinical trial support for Agios’ three global, pivotal trials in thalassemia and sickle cell disease. Under a previous agreement, CENTOGENE provided support for Agios’ pyruvate kinase (PK) deficiency clinical program.
 
The companies signed a commercial three-year fee-for-service agreement. Agios will be coordinating and bearing the costs for the programs. 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.
 
The partnership will leverage CENTOGENE’s 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, M.D., Chief Executive Officer at 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.”
 
“As we look ahead to initiating three global, pivotal trials in thalassemia and sickle cell disease by the end of the year, we are pleased to expand our partnership with CENTOGENE to better understand the underlying genetics of patients in our studies and the potential impact of our investigational medicine,” said Sarah Gheuens, M.D., Ph.D., Chief Medical Officer at Agios. “At Agios, we know that great science requires world-class teamwork. By working with outstanding partners like CENTOGENE, we can together accelerate innovations that make a positive difference in patients’ lives.”