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 license 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 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.
In other agreements: Luminex (Austin, Texas) and Tyson Foods (Springdale, Arkansas) reported reaching a collaboration to create faster, more accurate and cost-effective food safety and animal health tests.
"Luminex is pleased to partner with Tyson to develop novel tests that we believe will allow the food industry to screen for pathogens and other microbes more efficiently and accurately," said Patrick Balthrop, president/CEO of Luminex. "Our xMAP Technology, which enables multiple tests to be run simultaneously on one sample, has great application in the food safety and animal health arena as it provides a significant level of data quickly and efficiently."
Tyson and Luminex's first collaboration is the development of an avian flock health monitoring panel. Future research and development projects slated are focused on food safety and quality tests, and additional animal health diagnostic panels leveraging the flexibility and multi-analyte technology capabilities of xMAP technology and current and future Luminex instrument platforms.
Luminex develops biological testing technologies with applications throughout the diagnostic and life sciences industries.