OGT expands commitment to improved cancer profiling with CCMC deal

Oxford, UK – 26 February 2013. OGT, provider of innovative genetics research and biomarker solutions to advance molecular medicine, announced today that it has signed a licence agreement with the Cancer Cytogenomics Microarray Consortium (CCMC) to design a whole genome, cancer-specific microarray.

The array will incorporate probes for over 500 cancer genes and 130 cancer-associated genomic regions from the CCMC’s design for haematological and solid tumours. The aim is to improve cancer research through the accurate identification of DNA copy number changes, and loss of heterozygosity associated with different cancer types.  

The CCMC promotes communication and collaboration among cancer cytogenomics laboratories to foster new cancer genomic discoveries. It follows the same successful model of standardised array design and usage introduced by the International Collaboration for Clinical Genomics (ICCG)* to improve the quality of clinical research using new molecular cytogenetic technologies.

The licence agreement is founded on OGT’s recent success in the development and commercialisation of the CytoSure^® Haematological Cancer +SNP Array targeting the four common haematological cancers: Chronic Lymphocytic Leukemia, Multiple Myeloma, Myeloproliferative Neoplasms and Myelodysplastic Syndrome and is a further extension of the company’s work in cancer research.  

As lead partner in a £1.16 million grant from the UK government-backed Technology Strategy Board, OGT is also developing a next generation sequencing tumour profiling assay, which will provide specific information about individual cancer samples to facilitate research into personalised treatment strategies. In addition, OGT has a rich portfolio of biomarkers for early stage cancer detection with advanced programmes in colorectal and prostate cancer.

Dr. Mike Evans, CEO at OGT said: “The CCMC licence agreement is an endorsement of both OGT’s expertise in gene-focused arrays and our commitment to developing accurate solutions for early cancer detection and accurate disease characterisation. We are proud to be able to contribute to the good work undertaken by the CCMC to further cancer research through increasing access to more comprehensive, accurately interpreted molecular information.”

Dr. Marilyn Li, former president of the CCMC said, “We are pleased to work with companies that share our belief in standardised, high-quality microarrays and our commitment to ensuring that colleagues can access and share vital data.”

Dr. M Anwar Iqbal, President of the CCMC added, “The use of microarray technology will substantially improve the facility of cytogenetics research laboratories to identify cancer. The CCMC board appreciates the efforts of companies such as OGT to making the CCMC cancer array design available to the cytogenetics research community worldwide.”

About OGT

OGT, a Sysmex Group company, is a leading global provider of clinical and diagnostic genomic solutions that are created for scientists by scientists - including CytoCell^®, CytoSure^® and SureSeq™ ranges of FISH, microarray and NGS products. The company is dedicated to creating products that enable researchers and clinical decision makers to reach the right care decisions for each patient, every time. OGT strives to unlock the future of genetic clinical care with a commitment to working in partnership with its customers - not only by sharing its expertise of 25 years at the forefront of genetic endeavour, but also by working closely with scientists to understand their unique challenges, and to customise its approach to meet their exact needs. Dedicated to improving clinical care, OGT believes that through partnership—together—we’ll achieve more.

For more information on the Company, please visit our website at ogt.com

CytoSure^®, SureSeq™ and myProbes^®: For Research Use Only, not for use in diagnostic procedures. CytoCell: Some products may not be available in your region.

About Sysmex Corporation

Sysmex Corporation is a world leader in clinical laboratory systemization and solutions, including laboratory diagnostics, laboratory automation and clinical information systems. Serving customers for more than 50 years, Sysmex focuses on technological leadership in diagnostic science and information tools that make a difference in the health of people worldwide. The company is also exploring emerging opportunities in the life science field. Its R&D efforts focus on the development of high-value-added testing and diagnostic technologies that are innovative, original and optimize individual health. Sysmex also seeks to leverage its state-of-the-art technologies for cell, gene and protein analysis. The company, headquartered in Kobe, Japan, has subsidiaries in North America, Latin America, Europe, the Middle East, Africa, China and Asia Pacific and employs more than 9,000 employees worldwide. Sysmex Corporation is listed in the top tier of the Tokyo Stock Exchange.

For more information about Sysmex Corporation and its affiliate companies, please visit www.sysmex.co.jp/en/.