Exosome Diagnostics And DxS Diagnostic Innovations Collaborate To Develop Blood-Based Tests For Key Cancer Mutations

Main Category: Cancer / Oncology
Also Included In: Genetics;  Biology / Biochemistry;  Blood / Hematology
Article Date: 23 Jun 2009 - 1:00 PDT

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Exosome Diagnostics, Inc. ("ExosomeDX") and DxS Ltd. ("DxS") announced that they will collaborate on the development of blood-based companion diagnostics for key cancer gene mutations, such as KRAS, BRAF and EGFR. The collaboration will use DxS' industry leading Scorpions(R) real-time PCR Mutation Test Kits in conjunction with ExosomeDX's xOS(TM) technology which harvests high-quality nucleic acids from blood exosomes.

The collaboration will initially focus on developing blood-based measurement of KRAS, BRAF, EGFR and other key mutations for predicting patient response to targeted therapies. Blood-based mutation measurement is particularly valuable in circumstances where tissue bioavailability is limited such as in lung, pancreatic and ovarian cancers.

Exosomes are small microvesicles precipitously shed by all solid tumors into blood. They contain virtually the entire cancer tumor transcriptome. In studies, ExosomeDX has identified most mRNA and miRNA in circulating tumor derived exosomes, all protected in the exosome lipid bi-layer from any blood-based RNase. Initial findings were published in the December 2008 issue of Nature Cell Biology.

"There are over 180 companies investigating over 370 different molecular targeted cancer therapies, many of which will require high-quality, molecular companion diagnostics," said James McCullough, Chief Executive Officer Exosome Diagnostics. "Teaming with the world leader in this space is a critical step in providing a solution for pharmaceutical companies, researchers and clinicians to measure the key mutations DxS Scorpion probes target directly from blood."

"Combining the ability to pull high-quality mutations from a simple blood draw with the unparalleled sensitivity and specificity of our Scorpion assays will provide our pharmaceutical and research customers with an ideal solution in personalized medicine," said Dr. Stephen Little, Chief Executive Officer of DxS.

About DxS

DxS is a personalised medicine company providing molecular diagnostics to aid doctors and drug companies in selecting therapies for patients. DxS offers products, technology and services to the healthcare industry to enable the delivery of safe and effective medicines. Working predominantly in the field of cancer, DxS has a range of companion diagnostic and research kits that detect mutations in oncogenes.

About Exosome Diagnostics

Exosome Diagnostics is a developer of proprietary non-invasive, molecular diagnostic tests. The company's core technology is based on discoveries by Harvard and Massachusetts General Hospital researchers that circulating nanovesicles in blood and urine called exosomes contain unique genetic markers that can be reliably harvested for personalized medicine cancer diagnostics

Source: Exosome Diagnostics