NEW YORK (GenomeWeb News) – Affymetrix today announced it has reached a global distribution deal for Almac Group's Xcel array for research use in biomarker discovery targeting diseases such as cancer.
The array is built on Affy's GeneChip Human Genome U133 Plus 2.0 Array platform, optimized for RNA expression profiling from formalin-fixed, paraffin-embedded tissue.
"Researchers now have the ability to carry out retrospective studies for discovery and validation of gene expression biomarkers for translation into clinical practices," Kevin Cannon, expression business lead at Affymetrix, said in a statement. "This array represents a significant technology advancement, and combined with Genisphere's Sensation reagents addresses a much needed FFPE workflow solution for gene expression profiling and biomarker discovery."
Affy inked a licensing deal in November covering technology from Genisphere for RNA amplification and labeling.
Almac's Xcel array contains more than 97,000 transcripts, including all of the GeneChip Human Genome U133 Plus 2.0 Array content, updated RefSeq content, as well as new content such as long non-coding and endogenous antisense transcripts.
Financial and other terms of the deal were not disclosed.