Cytomyx Launched Broad Human Tissue Real-Time PCR Biomarker Validation Product Lines

Cytomyx Holdings Plc has announced that it has launched Biomarker tools from its earlier collaboration agreement with OriGene Technologies Inc.

Under the terms of the agreement, Cytomyx supplied hundreds of highly characterized RNA samples from a wide range of major cancers from its extensive Biorepository.

OriGene has used these samples to develop human tissue Real-Time PCR Panels. These panels currently cover Prostate, Breast, Colon, Lung, Ovarian, Thyroid and Kidney Cancers allowing scientists to validate biomarkers across hundreds of tissues in less than two hours. Each tissue is linked to highly annotated pathology reports and tissue images. These TissueScan Panels enable researchers to profile gene expression levels in these patient derived samples to determine linkages between gene expression and tumor occurrence and development.

"Cytomyx is rapidly transforming its high quality Biorepository into derivative products and has optimized them to use Real-Time PCR readouts. Real-Time PCR is the fastest growing segment of the Gene Expression market and these products enable researchers to rapidly assess gene expression levels across a wide range of patients with different forms and stages of the major cancers. We expect that it will become an important new resource in the effort to characterize tumors at the genetic level and may help in the development of precisely targeted new diagnostics and therapies in the future," said Scott Steelman, PhD, Vice President of Cytomyx.

"We are pleased to be working with OriGene who have established themselves as a leading developer of gene function products. In particular their access to the global market for research products will help to ensure the success of this important new product line," Steelman added.

"Having tools that demonstrates correlation of mRNA levels to detailed disease stage is critical for biomarker validation," said Rich Hamer, PhD, Vice President at OriGene. "OriGene's TissueScan platform combined with the depth of Cytomyx' Biorepository greatly enhances the target screening and biomarker validation toolset needed by today's researchers."