NEW YORK – Agendia said this week that the German Gynecological Oncology Working Group (AGO) has included its 80-gene molecular subtyping assay, BluePrint, in its guidelines. The assay was added to a list of predictive factors for neoadjuvant chemotherapy decision making. Last year, AGO already added Agendia's MammaPrint to the list of prognostic and predictive factors for extended endocrine therapy. That test has also been part of the guidelines since 2017 as level 1B medical evidence for identifying patients who can potentially forgo chemotherapy for breast cancer.
Mainz Biomed said this week that its 2023 revenues rose 69 percent to $895,479 from $529,877 in 2022. The German cancer diagnostics developer posted a net loss of $26.3 million, or $1.62 per share, in 2023 compared to a net loss of $26.4 million, or $1.86 per share, the year before. Its R&D spending increased to $9.6 million from $5.0 million, while its SG&A costs ticked down to $17.6 million from $21.6 million. Mainz ended 2023 with $7.1 million in cash.
German genomics and genetic testing company CeGaT said this week that B. Braun has sold its stake in the company back to its founders, Saskia and Dirk Biskup, effective April 1. Both firms "will be pursuing different strategic directions in the future despite a longstanding and trusting collaboration," according to Tübingen-based CeGaT, and are no longer collaborating. B. Braun, a global medical device company based in Germany, invested an undisclosed amount in CeGaT in 2012, taking a 20 percent ownership stake in the firm. In 2014, the companies opened a US subsidiary and in 2018, they partnered to offer genetic testing services in China. That same year, they also created a joint venture, CeCaVa, to develop personalized vaccines for cancer and other diseases. CeGaT also said this week it opened new office and laboratory space in Tübingen, tripling the size of its existing building.
Telo Genomics said this week that its laboratory in Toronto has been accredited by the College of American Pathologists. As part of the accreditation process, inspectors review a laboratory's records and quality control of procedures, safety program and record, and overall management. Telo's telomere analysis platform has applications in liquid biopsies and other diagnostic areas.
Eurofins Genomics AgriGenomics Europe and Gencove said this week that they are partnering to offer low-pass whole-genome sequencing and analysis services in Europe. The companies will combine New York-based Gencove's platform for data analytics and management with Eurofins' low-pass whole genome sequencing services, focusing on applications in agriculture.
Culmination Bio said last week that it has teamed up with molecular diagnostics firm BillionToOne to develop cancer diagnostic tests. The companies will use Culmination Bio's patient data and samples, and the firm's patient recruitment expertise, to help BillionToOne validate its Northstar Select NGS-based liquid biopsy test for patients with Stage 3 and 4 cancer and its Northstar Response NGS-based treatment response monitoring assay that evaluates more than 500 genomic loci methylated in cancer.
In Brief This Week is a selection of news items that may be of interest to our readers but had not previously appeared on GenomeWeb.