Singapore: US-based Response Genetics, a company focused on the development and sale of molecular diagnostic tests that help determine a patient's response to cancer therapy, announced extension of its agreement with Japan's Taiho Pharmaceutical, a subsidiary of Otsuka Holdings, to provide testing and analysis services for specified molecular markers used in research, diagnosis and the therapeutic treatment of cancer.

Under the terms of the agreement, Response Genetics will receive a minimum of $950,000 for services provided during the extended term of January 1 through December 31, 2013. "Response Genetics has and continues to provide Taiho with a comprehensive portfolio of gene expression assays and we are pleased to extend this relationship," said Mr Thomas Bologna, chairman and CEO of Response Genetics.

"Response Genetics and Taiho share a commitment to provide services that foster the development of patient-centered medical treatment and we believe that the testing services resulting from this collaboration will yield actionable results important to patient care," he added.