Progenika said last week that it has moved its US headquarters to Medford, Mass. The Derio, Spain-based company previously managed its US operations from an office in nearby Cambridge that was established in 2007 (BAN 7/10/2007).
The new office and facility in Medford includes a US Clinical Laboratory Improvement Acts-compliant lab, according to Progenika.
Progenika markets two tests in the US. Its ADH test is a diagnostic for familial hypercholesterolemia and relies on its LipoChip. The array surveys samples for mutations in the low-density lipoprotein receptor gene and the familial defective apolipoprotein B-100 gene, both of which hinder the removal of cholesterol from the blood and contribute to coronary artery disease and atherosclerosis.
The BGG test is used to genetically characterize blood group antigens of both blood donors and recipients. It is run on the company's BloodChip, which uses an internally manufactured genotyping array to determine more than 60 clinically relevant blood group phenotypes from the ABO, RHD, RHCE, Kell, Kidd, Duffy, MNS, Colton, Diego, and Dombrock systems.
The firm recommends the BGG test for typing pregnant women who are RHD negative and at risk of maternal alloimmunization. It is also meant to be used by multiple-transfused patients, such as those with sickle cell anemia, thalassemia, or those undergoing chemotherapy.
Both arrays are manufactured internally. Progenika in 2009 inked a deal to provide blood group genotyping reference laboratory services to ARUP Laboratories (BAN 11/3/2009).
Further details of the firm's expanded US operations were not discussed.