A Diagnostics & Imaging Week

iCAD (Nashua, New Hampshire), a provider of computer-aided detection (CAD) solutions for the early identification of cancer, reported an agreement with ACR Image Metrix (Philadelphia) to conduct a multi-reader clinical study of iCAD’s CT Colon product, for use with virtual colonoscopy. iCAD will work with ACR Image Metrix to develop and execute a clinical study to support FDA approval of CT Colon CAD.

ACR Image Metrix was launched by the American College of Radiology (ACR) to expand on more than 30 years of experience in clinical research in part through the American College of Radiology Imaging Network (ACRIN), developing trials that standardize the use of imaging technologies, image transmission and archiving.

“This partnership represents a major step forward in the development of our Colon CAD product,” said Ken Ferry, president/CEO of iCAD.

iCAD said that the results from recent trials showing the effectiveness of virtual colonoscopy as a screening procedure, coupled with recent legislation introduced to establish Medicare reimbursement for the procedure, are likely to increase the use of virtual colonoscopy.

Bruce Hillman, MD, director of scientific affairs for Image Metrix, said, “We feel that CT Colonography has the potential to drastically improve colon cancer screening and we look forward to exploring how CAD can impact and enhance this new option for detecting polyps.”

ACRIN is the NCI-funded clinical trials cooperative group established in 1999 to assess emerging imaging technologies. Its clinical trials have involved as few as 65 to more than 50,000 subjects and have handled over 50 million images.

iCAD offers a range of upgradeable CAD systems for the high-, mid- and low-volume mammography markets.

In other agreements:

• Rubicon Genomics (Ann Arbor, Michigan) reported a collaboration with OncoMethylome Sciences (Durham, North Carolina/Liege, Belgium) to identify biomarkers for early detection of cancer.

Rubicon said it will use its MethylPlex platform to carry out the analysis. Additionally, Rubicon granted OncoMethylome an option to licensing markers resulting from the collaboration.

The companies said that this is the second such marker identification agreement between them, and OncoMethylome Sciences has already licensed a set of markers from Rubicon.

Cancer cells alter the normal patterns of DNA methylation giving the tumor the ability to grow and spread. The patterns of abnormal methylation in DNA are strong predictors of the presence of cancer as well as other diseases. MethylPlex is a method for identifying multi-gene patterns of abnormal DNA methylation during tumor formation and progression.

Rubicon is a developer of proprietary MethylPlex-based tests for non-invasive diagnosis of cancer and other diseases, as well as kits and services to facilitate gene-based research and drug development

• Masimo (Irvine, California) reported signing a three-year supplier agreement with HealthTrust Purchasing Group (Brentwood, Tennessee), a GPO representing more than 3,800 facilities, including acute care hospitals, ambulatory surgery centers, alternate care sites and physician practices, with an annual purchasing volume of more than $13 billion.

The agreement provides HealthTrust members access to Masimo SET pulse oximetry and Masimo Rainbow SET monitoring technologies.

Masimo said that the addition of HealthTrust expands its GPO contracts to include all 10 of the nation’s top GPOs, allowing hospitals and other care providers access to Masimo SET and Masimo Rainbow SET technologies.

HealthTrust reports supporting over 3,800 not-for-profit and for-profit facilities including acute care hospitals, ambulatory surgery centers, physician practices, and alternate care sites.

• Sigma-Aldrich (St. Louis) reported an agreement with Nanoco Technologies, (Manchester, UK) to distribute luminescent quantum dot nanocrystals globally. Sigma-Aldrich will distribute research quantities (less than 1 g) of seven core-shell semiconductor quantum dots through the Aldrich Materials Science initiative of its Research Specialties business.

The nanocrystals will be marketed and distributed under the brand name Lumidots.

Quantum dots (QDs) are nanometer-sized semiconductor nanoparticles that emit bright, near monochromatic light (luminesce) under light or electrical stimulation. Emission color can be tuned by choosing nanocrystal size, making QDs ideal luminophors for cutting-edge applications including ultra-thin displays, solid-state lighting, anti-counterfeit protection, and next-generation solar cells.

Dr. Ilya Koltover, product manager, Aldrich Materials Science, said, “The new Lumidots are an important addition to our line of nanomaterials products, providing researchers around the world reliable access to high-quality quantum dot nanocrystals. Using these materials, scientists and engineers can focus on developing applications that take advantage of the unique properties of quantum dots.”

Nanoco said it will offer larger quantities of quantum dots to partners who move beyond research to development of commercial QD applications.

Sigma-Aldrich develops biochemical and organic chemical products and kits used in scientific and genomic research, biotechnology and diagnostics.

Nanoco is a nanotechnology company holding patents related to industrial-scale production of quantum dots.