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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Medical
prnewswire | September 01, 2023
Exacta Bioscience, a biotech company that harnesses the power of nature and its microorganisms for crop protection, and Ginkgo Bioworks which is building the leading platform for cell programming and biosecurity, today announced that Exacta is leveraging Ginkgo's end-to-end agricultural R&D services to run a fermentation optimization and scale-up program to enhance one of its crop protection products, FitoRoot®, paving the way for large-scale commercialization.
FitoRoot, a biostimulant product composed of three Bacillus strains, is designed to help crops better absorb water, nutrients and strengthen their defenses against abiotic stress. This can lead to overall better crop health, improved yield and increased resistance to stress conditions such as drought or extreme temperatures. Through this partnership, Exacta will use Ginkgo's fermentation and formulation optimization services to reduce the cost of goods to make its FitoRoot technology more competitive. Accordingly, FitoRoot is currently marketed in Chile and is expected to expand to other Latin American markets, with a planned launch in 2023 by Adama Chile, who is driving biological adoption in the region. Adama Ltd is one of the world's leading crop protection companies.
"We chose Ginkgo because their deep expertise in agricultural product development and optimization positions us to make one of our key crop protection products, FitoRoot, more accessible," said José Bustos, CEO at Exacta Bioscience. "We're proud of the progress Exacta has made, and this partnership marks a vital step toward accelerating our efforts to assure the quality and availability of one of our products and creating a stable and safer ecosystem."
"Exacta Bioscience's emphasis on microbial solutions in crop health brings more sustainable and differentiated solutions to farmers throughout the Americas," said Magalie Guilhabert, Head of Ag Biologicals, Ginkgo Bioworks. "Together, we can continue to push the boundaries of agricultural innovation through biotechnological solutions that promote a more sustainable future for our food systems."
Ginkgo's end-to-end agricultural services can help R&D teams develop more effective biological products across a variety of applications. Find out more.
About Ginkgo Bioworks
Ginkgo Bioworks is the leading horizontal platform for cell programming, providing flexible, end-to-end services that solve challenges for organizations across diverse markets, from food and agriculture to pharmaceuticals to industrial and specialty chemicals. Ginkgo's biosecurity and public health unit, Concentric by Ginkgo, is building global infrastructure for biosecurity to empower governments, communities, and public health leaders to prevent, detect, and respond to a wide variety of biological threats.
About Exacta Bioscience
Exacta Bioscience is a pioneering biotech company that uses microorganisms to create innovative bioproducts for agriculture. Their nature-inspired solutions support a future without chemical pesticides and antibiotics. With extensive knowledge of microorganisms and their effects on crops and soil, Exacta tackles modern farming challenges. Their expertise is in formulating microorganism mixtures, providing a wide range of bioproducts, specifically for crop protection. They are dedicated to delivering effective, stable, and safe crop protection and soil-enhancing products. They invite everyone to join in advancing sustainable practices for a healthier future.
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MedTech
PRNewswire | August 24, 2023
Vial, a global tech-driven CRO providing next-generation clinical trial management services, has announced a partnership with Documenso, an innovative open-source digital signing platform. The collaboration marks a significant step forward in revolutionizing document signing practices within the life science sector, providing a compelling alternative to traditional solutions like DocuSign.
In an era where digital transformation is reshaping industries, Vial's partnership with Documenso is set to drive innovation in electronic document management, particularly in meeting the rigorous requirements of CFR Part 11 compliance. CFR Part 11 is a section of the Code of Federal Regulations (Title 21) established by the FDA. It lays out guidelines for electronic recordkeeping and signatures, ensuring data integrity and security in regulated sectors such as pharmaceuticals, biotechnology, and medical devices.
"Vial's unwavering commitment to technological advancement has always been at the core of our mission to reimagine clinical trials. Our partnership with Documenso signifies an exciting leap towards innovation by addressing a critical need in the life science sector. Currently, very few providers offer solutions that align with the rigorous requirements of 21 CFR Part 11. We aim to collaborate with Documenso to develop one of the industry's first open-source document-signing products that meet the demands of 21 CFR Part 11. Together, we are poised to reshape how critical documents are managed and signed, driving us closer to a future where technology empowers every facet of scientific progress," said Simon Burns, CEO and Co-Founder of Vial.
Vial's mission is to reimagine clinical trials to empower scientists to cure all human disease. Vial's driver for accomplishing this mission is applying a technology-forward approach. By deploying technology at every step, Vial is able to drive efficiencies in speed and cost savings for innovative biotech companies of all sizes. The Vial CRO distinguishes itself by leveraging its Vial Technology Platform, TrialOS, combining site start-up, visit data capture, and study analytics into one connected system. These best-in-class CRO services, combined with top vendor partnerships like Documenso, help accelerate the development of new therapies and devices for sponsors and patients.
On the partnership, Timur, CEO, and Co-Founder of Documenso, commented, "Documenso is more than just a digital signing solution; it's a global commodity designed for longevity and scalability. We're excited to work alongside Vial in this endeavor, leveraging the power of Commercial Open Source (COSS) principles to provide a robust alternative to traditional solutions."
About Vial
Vial is a tech-first, next-generation CRO that promises faster and higher-quality execution of trials for less cost. The Vial Contract Research Organization (CRO) delivers on the promise of more efficient trials through its innovative technology platform that powers trials end-to-end from site startup to database lock. Vial's technology platform combines modern, intuitive eSource, EDC, and ePRO into one connected system, streamlining site processes and enabling considerable efficiencies. Vial operates across multiple Therapeutic Areas (Dermatology CRO, Ophthalmology CRO, Oncology CRO, Gastroenterology CRO, Neurology CRO, Cardiology CRO, Medical Device CRO, Rare Disease CRO, and Digital Therapeutics CRO). Vial is a San Francisco, California-based company with over 100+ employees.
About Documenso
Documenso is a groundbreaking open-source digital signing platform and alternative to traditional solutions like DocuSign. With a strong emphasis on customization and scalability, Documenso seamlessly integrates into business operations, offering extensive options for adaptation and an open API. Documenso was built for longevity and scale by embracing the capital efficiency and inclusiveness of the Commercial Open Source (COSS) movement. Documenso aims to create a global standard for digital signing that prioritizes inclusiveness and innovation.
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