NEW YORK (GenomeWeb) – Sophia Genetics launched a new genetic test this week that combines its own Data Driven Medicine analytics platform with Swift Biosciences' Accel-Amplicon panels.
According to Sophia, which will also offer the new solution to clinics in Europe, the combined product will couple the Accel-Amplicon 56G oncology panel with Sophia's DDM platform, which offers algorithms for calling and annotating variants in next-generation sequencing datasets. Swift's Accel-Amplicon panels offer a complete sample prep solution in a single kit and have simple workflows that reduce the risk of sample processing errors. The 56G oncology panel, in particular, covers 56 cancer genes and requires 10 nanograms of material from formalin-fixed, paraffin-embedded or liquid biopsy samples.
"The combination of Swift's amplicon products with Sophia Genetics DDM is simplifying the workflow in personalized medicine," said Swift CEO Timothy Harkins in a statement. "This is just the first step for our companies in a strategic partnership that will help lead and transform the industry."
Sophia CEO and Founder Jurgi Camblong added that the combined solution would speed the adoption of NGS technologies in Europe. "To start with, it will benefit the existing 120 members of our clinical genomics community for molecular diagnosis," he said.
This agreement is part of a larger plan by Sophia to build a network of genetic test panel providers that are supported by the its DDM platform. The company said that it plans to make several custom amplicon panels available for the DDM platform through 2016.