Genetic Engineering & Biotechnology News (GEN) is the world's most widely read biotech publication. It provides the R&D; community with critical information on the tools, technologies, and trends that drive the biotech industry.
Issue link: http://gen.epubxp.com/i/716943
Genetic Engineering & Biotechnology News | GENengnews.com | SEPTEMBER 1, 2016 | 35 record of translational and clinical trials," illu- minates Stefan Sleijfer, M.D., Ph.D., head, de- partment of medical oncology, Erasmus MC Cancer Institute, the Netherlands. "This situa- tion is perfect to execute complex clinical stud- ies. Distances are relatively minor. We have a single government-run healthcare system with mandatory health insurance for all residents." One interesting study focuses on deter- mining which treatment to use for a par- ticular cancer, especially metastatic cancer. Patients join the study, and tumor samples are obtained. From there, information on treatment response and overall survival is easily captured. Genetic information about the tumors is collected, too. "We now have the resources to do this for 6,000 patients," articulates Dr. Sleijfer. Another study conducted in the Nether- lands is a drug repurposing study for patients for whom no treatment is available. Patients who are in good condition and willing to be treated will be examined for genetic variants. From there, off-label use of medications will be considered. Cancer recognizes no geopolitical bound- aries. To find new treatments and approach- es, we need to consider worldwide research efforts, not only in cancer treatment, but also in pharmacogenetics. Pick your platform Make your mark. Cells are complex. Turn complexity into c Cells are complex. Turn complexity into clarity by choosing the ideal cell analysis platform for your experimen cell analysis platform for your experimental design. You'll quickly get meaningful results from our cytometry p meaningful results from our cytometry platforms that combine simplified sample preparation with powerful data a sample preparation with powerful data analysis. Select from the intuitive guava easyCyte™ flow cytometer, the com guava easyCyte™ flow cytometer, the compact Muse® personal cell analyzer, and the enabling Amnis® imagi analyzer, and the enabling Amnis® imaging flow cytometers. Be the competition others are worried about—m competition others are worried about—make your mark. Pick your platform www.emdmillipore.com/cellanalysis Cell analysis solutions that help your research stand out. EMD Millipore, Amnis, Muse and the M logo are registered trademarks and guava easyCyte is a trademark of Merck KGaA, Darmstadt, Germany. BS-GEN-15-11125 02/15 ©2015 EMD Millipore Corporation, Billerica, MA USA. All rights reserved. EMD Millipore is a division of Merck KGaA, EMD Millipore is a division of Merck KGaA, Darmstadt, Germany Darmstadt, EMD Millipore is a division of Merck KGaA, Darmstadt, Germany Germany EMD Millipore is a division of Merck KGaA, Darmstadt, Germany TRANSLATIONAL MEDICINE > Myriad to Acquire Assurex Health for Up to $410M Myriad Genetics agreed to acquire Assurex Health for up to $410 mil- lion, in a deal that expands the buyer into genetic testing for psychotropic medicine selection. The deal gives Myriad its first com- mercial neuroscience diagnostic test, GeneSight®, whose potential market according to the company exceeds $4 billion based upon current and future indications. "This acquisition provides an experi- enced commercial organization in the neuroscience market that we believe will be one of the highest growth areas for personalized medicine and com- pletes our infrastructure expansion consistent with our four-in-six strategy," Myriad president and CEO Mark C. Ca- pone said in a statement. Myriad agreed to pay $225 million upfront plus up to $185 million in ad- ditional payments tied to achieving performance-based milestones. > Luminex Gets FDA Clearance for Respiratory Assay Luminex received FDA clearance for the ARIES® Flu A/B & RSV Assay. This is the second assay the FDA has cleared for use on the Luminex ARIES® System. The product reportedly delivers results in less than two hours for the de- tection and differentiation of three key respiratory pathogens: influenza A virus, influenza B virus, and respiratory syncy- tial virus (RSV) using a sample-to-answer platform. This new assay also allows for panel customization with the ability to only report the results of interest. > New Theranos Device Launched While Questions Remain Embattled Theranos CEO Elizabeth Holmes took the stage before 1,000 clinical laboratory scientists in Phila- delphia last month and if they were expecting a new era of transparency from the 13-year-old diagnostics company regarding its technology and key performance data, they likely came away disappointed. Instead, during her 45 minutes at the podium at the American Associa- tion of Clinical Chemistry (AACC) con- ference, Holmes detailed the launch of a new product, the miniLab, a cus- tomizable tabletop device that can perform a variety of clinical chemistry, hematology, immunohistochemistry, and molecular biology assays using a small sample of blood. n News Molecular Diagnostics