MedTech, Medical
Globenewswire | August 09, 2023
Olink Holding AB announced that the Baylor College of Medicine Human Genome Sequencing Center (BCM-HGSC) has selected the Olink Explore platform as a proteomics component of their world-class multiomics offering.
Understanding the complex biological mechanisms of human diseases is essential to identifying effective new therapeutic strategies. The addition of Olink proteomic technology enables a more thorough understanding of the intricate connections between genes, proteins, and diseases that will lead to improved diagnostics, targeted therapies and the advancement of precision and personalized medicine.
“We are immensely pleased to see the Olink Explore HT platform implemented at one of the world’s leading multiomic research centers,“ said Jon Heimer, CEO, Olink Proteomics. “The massive genomic sequencing and automation capabilities of the BCM-HGSC unlocks a unique opportunity for proteogenomic research at scale. We look forward to seeing our tools applied across a broad spectrum of new therapeutic research fields to enhance the existing knowledge of molecular pathways involved in the development, progression, and outcome of disease.”
Other large-scale research programs, like the UK Biobank health study, have demonstrated how Olink Explore enables a more complete understanding of the molecular basis of disease. With the addition of Olink proteomics technology, the BCM-HGSC further strengthens its ability to offer unique multiomics capabilities for large population-scale health studies.
“Technology development and the adoption of new methods remains a priority at the HGSC, and we are excited to incorporate Olink’s technology into our portfolio,” said Richard Gibbs, Ph.D. Director, Human Genome Sequencing Center and Wofford Cain Professor of Molecular & Human Genetics, Baylor College of Medicine. “The ability to perform high-throughput proteomics opens many possibilities for current and future studies. This technology provides a natural extension from traditional genomic research by providing data that points to the impact of genetic variation on function. A comprehensive, multiomic approach will be needed to determine the mechanism of action of many genetic diseases and is essential for guiding effective prevention and treatment.”
The Olink Explore platform represents the cutting edge in proteomic technology. Olink Explore HT is the company's latest solution for high-throughput proteomics, delivering unmatched specificity, scalability, and simplicity. With a completely reimagined and streamlined workflow, Olink Explore HT allows scientists to accurately measure over 5,300 proteins using only 2µl of sample. By combining Olink PEA technology with an NGS readout of relative protein concentrations each thoroughly validated assay maintains the exceptional standards of specificity and sensitivity that Olink users have come to trust.
AboutOlink Proteomics
Olink Holding AB is a company dedicated to accelerating proteomics together with the scientific community, across multiple disease areas to enable new discoveries and improve the lives of patients. Olink provides a platform of products and services which are deployed across major pharmaceutical companies and leading clinical and academic institutions to deepen the understanding of real-time human biology and drive 21st century healthcare through actionable and impactful science. The Company was founded in 2016 and is well established across Europe, North America and Asia. Olink is headquartered in Uppsala, Sweden.
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MedTech
businesswire | August 31, 2023
Watchmaker Genomics, a supplier of innovative products for molecular analysis, today announced a multi-year, co-exclusive agreement with Exact Sciences Corporation, a leading provider of cancer screening and diagnostic tests, to develop and commercialize the breakthrough DNA methylation analysis technology, TET-assisted pyridine borane sequencing (TAPS). Watchmaker will apply its expertise in engineering DNA-modifying enzymes to further improve the TAPS chemistry, ultimately enabling advanced applications, including cancer screening and minimal residual disease (MRD) testing. Under the licensing agreement, Watchmaker may develop and commercialize the TAPS technology under its own brand.
DNA methylation patterns offer dynamic and rich insights into the status of both healthy and diseased tissue. These signatures are stable, relatively abundant, and often measurable in the blood, making them promising biomarkers in minimally invasive liquid biopsies. TAPS has the potential to dramatically improve DNA methylation analysis accuracy by enabling a direct readout of cytosine methylation with less template damage and noise when compared to existing methods.1
"Exact Sciences is a leader in cancer screening, and this agreement is a great fit with Watchmaker’s core competencies in next-generation sequencing and genomics applications," said Brian Kudlow, Ph.D., Chief Scientific Officer at Watchmaker Genomics. "It aligns with our belief that multimodal genomic and epigenomic assays represent the frontier of numerous liquid biopsy applications, including early cancer detection."
In addition to the development and licensing agreement, the companies have entered into a long-term strategic supply agreement. Under its terms, Watchmaker will provide Exact Sciences with access to its portfolio of best-in-class sequencing reagents and precision enzymes. These products have the potential to enhance the performance of Exact Sciences’ tests while significantly reducing associated costs.
“Our company’s mission is to develop and broadly commercialize tools that improve the efficiency of capturing and interpreting the biological information required for many advanced genetic testing applications,” said Trey Foskett, CEO of Watchmaker Genomics. “This arrangement provides us with an exciting opportunity to accelerate the development and commercialization of a game-changing technology to the benefit of the broader research and clinical genomics markets.”
About Watchmaker Genomics
Watchmaker Genomics applies advanced enzymology to enable breakthrough applications for the reading, writing, and editing of DNA and RNA. The company combines domain expertise in protein engineering with large-scale enzyme manufacturing to address the demanding quality, performance, and scale requirements of high-growth clinical genomics applications. Watchmaker's product portfolio includes enzymes and kits for next-generation sequencing, synthetic biology, and molecular diagnostics.
A leading provider of cancer screening and diagnostic tests, Exact Sciences gives patients and health care professionals the clarity needed to take life-changing action earlier. Building on the success of the Cologuard® and Oncotype® tests, Exact Sciences is investing in its pipeline to develop innovative solutions for use before, during, and after a cancer diagnosis.
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Cell and Gene Therapy, MedTech
globenewswire | August 29, 2023
NKGen Biotech, Inc. a clinical-stage biotechnology company focused on the development and commercialization of innovative autologous, allogeneic, and CAR-NK natural killer (“NK”) cell therapies, today announced the first patient has been dosed in a Phase I, multi-center, open-label, dose-escalation study evaluating its cryopreserved investigational allogeneic blood-derived NK cell therapy (“SNK02”). In October 2022, the Food and Drug Administration allowed NKGen’s Phase I SNK02 clinical trial to proceed per its Investigational New Drug application. NKGen previously announced a proposed business combination with Graf Acquisition Corp. IV (NYSE: GFOR.U, GFOR, GFOR.WS).
This Phase I clinical trial is evaluating the safety and tolerability of SNK02 in participants with pathologically confirmed solid tumors refractory to standard of care therapy. The study drug, SNK02, will be administered as an intravenous infusion, weekly for eight weeks. SNK02 consists of NK cells isolated from healthy donor peripheral blood mononuclear cells. NKGen’s proprietary allogeneic manufacturing process is technically capable of producing hundreds of thousands of potential doses of NK cell therapies from materials collected from a single donor. Processed SNK02 cells are expected to possess 99% purity and very high receptor expression rates. Its cryopreservation process allows the Company to maintain significant cytotoxicity, potentially making SNK02 an accessible investigational off-the-shelf candidate for clinical trials treating malignancies with an emphasis on solid tumors.
“We are excited to have dosed our first patient in the Phase I SNK02 clinical trial in refractory cancer patients with limited treatment options,” said Paul Y. Song, M.D., CEO of NKGen. “SNK02 seeks to be one of the first cryopreserved allogeneic NK cell therapy for solid tumors that does not require lymphodepletion before administration. We believe the lack of lymphodepletion has the potential to better preserve the already fragile immune function of heavily pre-treated cancer patients with advanced disease. If successful, this therapy may lead to better overall synergy in future combination regimens with immune checkpoint inhibitors where a robust T-cell response is needed.”
About NKGen
NKGen is a clinical-stage biotechnology company focused on the development and commercialization of innovative autologous, allogeneic, and CAR-NK natural killer cell therapies. NKGen is headquartered in Santa Ana, California, USA.
About Graf Acquisition Corp. IV (“Graf”)
Graf is a blank-check company incorporated as a Delaware corporation and formed for the purpose of effecting a merger, capital stock exchange, asset acquisition, stock purchase, reorganization, or similar business combination with one or more businesses.
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