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NuGEN’s sample prep to be integrated with WaferGen’s
analytical workflow
May 2011
EDIT CONNECT
SHARING OPTIONS:
SAN CARLOS, Calif.—WaferGen Biosystems Inc., a developer of
genomic analysis systems, and NuGEN Technologies Inc., which specializes in
genomic
sample preparation, will co-develop and co-market "simple, seamlessly
integrated workflows for gene expression profiling and target enrichment to
enable researchers to more easily achieve high-throughput, high-density
real-time PCR with small, degraded and hard-to replace clinical specimens, such
as formalin-fixed paraffin embedded tissue (FFPE)."
NuGEN CEO Elizabeth Hutt supports this claim by
noting, "The
first stage of the co-development effort is focused on generating validation
data demonstrating the system integration between the two
companies' commercial
products. We will use NuGEN's unique single primer isothermal amplification
systems designed for challenging clinical samples
such as the total RNAs
isolated from small biopsies or FFPE up front of WaferGen's highly parallel
qPCR analysis SmartChip platform." The work will
be shared between the two teams,
she adds.
NuGEN had been aware of WaferGen's offering for some time
by
industry reputation in addition to mutual customers and advisors, Hutt says.
"I had the opportunity
to meet WaferGen CEO Alnoor Shivji a
couple of months ago, and we recognized that the two companies have been
independently working towards the same
end goal of simplifying customers'
workflow for highly parallel genomic analysis, and we can generate a great deal
of synergy by working more closely
together. We quickly brought our two teams
together and are looking forward to generating results from the co-development
efforts," she states.
Under the collaborative relationship, the two companies will
conduct joint product development
projects to construct validated workflows
with both NuGEN's proprietary sample preparation and isothermal linear
amplification (SPIA) products and the
WaferGen SmartChip Real-Time PCR System.
The projects will focus on solutions for sample preparation, pre-amplification
and nucleic acid detection for
gene expression and target enrichment from
various sample types to drive speed and simplicity.
"By
combining the expertise of both companies, we can offer
a simple and straightforward workflow solution for single cell analysis,
archival tissues and
next-generation sequencing, addressing the needs of
customers with precious nucleic acid samples who wish to perform
high-throughput, high-density
real-time PCR," says Shivji. "This will expand
the market potential of our SmartChip System by offering ready-to-go applications
for biomarker
discovery, validation and screening."
NuGEN's unique sample preparation solution, integrated with
WaferGen's SmartChip System, is clearly synergistic, says Hutt.
"Our expertise in solving the
challenges associated with
clinical samples, such as formalin-fixed, paraffin-embedded tissues or fine
needle aspirates, will be leveraged in a simple
workflow from sample to
analysis, expediting disease research and clinical applications," she says. "We
see synergies between the two companies to
address certain sequencing
bottlenecks, such as targeted sequence enrichment."
Detailed work plans
will need to be worked out to
demonstrate the feasibility, Hutt adds. The first phase of the co-development
project will reveal how well the two teams
work together. There are a lot of
synergies, and novel ideas may arise during the initial phase as they work to
better understand each other's
capabilities and platform potential.
"We will thoroughly explore the technical expertise of both
companies as the collaboration progresses." Hutt says, adding that it is
possible, but not likely, that modifications will be needed in NuGEN's
sample
prep technology. "We will make that determination after the technical teams
produce some early development data," she says. NuGEN's systems
are already
compatible with a range of downstream qPCR analysis methods, and Hutt says she
hopes the WaferGen SmartChip system will be a ready-made
plug-in. Code: E051112 Back |
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