NEW YORK (GenomeWeb) – Bionano Genomics and Genoptix today announced an exclusive agreement to codevelop diagnostic assays for selected hematologic oncology indications.
Bionano will contribute its knowledge of genome structure analysis and its Saphyr system, which is designed to accurately visualize the structure of a genome with a simple DNA sample, isolated directly from cancer cells. The platform can detect all major types of structural variants with greater sensitivity than sequence-based methods, according to Bionano.
Genoptix, one of the largest hematopathology centers in the US, will provide its expertise in hematology and oncology.
Calling the alliance "a major milestone for Bionano," the firm's CEO Erik Holmlin added that "Bionano's approach allows for the entire genome to be analyzed without the use of specific probes to detect variants of interest. Variants of clinical significance discovered in the future can easily be added to an assay without the need to develop additional detection tools."
The companies' development efforts will use Bionano's Saphyr System to detect large structural variations of the genome for hematology-oncology indications.
Financial and other terms of the deal were not disclosed.