SQI Diagnostics CE Marks Diagnostics Platform
SQI Diagnostics last week said that it is now authorized to use the CE Mark with its SQiDworks Diagnostics Platform. The Toronto-based company also said it is authorized to use the CE Mark for its array-based QuantiSpot Rheumatoid Arthritis Assay. SQI said it will now be able to market its QuantiSpot RA test to diagnostic laboratories in the European Union.
CEO Claude Ricks in a statement that the SQiDworks platform and QuantiSpot RA test have "met the requisite health, safety and environmental protection requirements covering these medical devices in the EU, which is further validation that our technology is ready for commercialization."
In November, SQI received Health Canada licenses to sell the QuantiSpot RA test and SQiDworks platform to Canadian diagnostic labs. The firm has also submitted the test and platform for US Food and Drug Administration clearance (see BAN 12/2/2008).
European Consortium Awarded Nearly $4M to Develop Plasma Biomarker Discovery Platform
A consortium of European companies and universities has been awarded €3 million ($3.8 million) under the European Commission's 7th Framework Program to develop a plasma biomarker discovery platform.
The three-year project, called Proactive, will be coordinated by Olink Bioscience of Uppsala, Sweden. Other partners include Innova Biosciences, Copenhagen University, Fujirebio Diagnostics, Uppsala University, and Integromics.
The goal of the initiative is to develop methods and reagents for multiplexed proximity ligation assays for detecting low-abundance proteins in plasma, along with statistical methods and data-management tools. The participants plan to carry out a series of pilot biomarker projects focused on colorectal cancer detection in blood samples.
The participants plan to develop a platform that can analyze 100 samples per week. The platform will be able to detect 180 putative protein biomarkers using four microliters of plasma, the participants said.
Further information about the project is available here.
Gene Logic Purchases Illumina iScan for SNP Genotyping Services
Gene Logic, a business unit of Ocimum Biosolutions, said this week that it has purchased an Illumina iScan microarray scanner in order to expand its SNP genotyping service offerings.
Gene Logic said that it will use the system with Illumina's Infinium HD assays, whole-genome expression, and methylation technologies.
Financial terms of the agreement were not disclosed.