In the context of the business models of platform technology companies #8211; in particular pharmacogenomics-based companies #8211; this feature discusses the recent deal between AVEO Pharmaceuticals and Schering-Plough to develop and commercialise AV-299, AVEO#8217;s humanised monoclonal antibody. AV-229 targets hepatocyte growth factor/scatter factor (HGF/SF), the ligand for the c-Met cell surface receptor tyrosine kinase, which is mutated or over-expressed in a number of cancers, and is linked to tumour metastasis. An important factor in this collaboration, which is potentially worth US$477.5 M to AVEO, is the company#8217;s Human Response Prediction#8482; (HRP) technology platform, which will be used to identify the biomarker profiles of potentially responsive vs. non-responsive tumours, and so guide the clinical development of AV-299, which is presently at the preclinical stage.