NEW YORK — Ikonisys has formed a collaboration with Israel's Sheba Medical Center to develop novel circulating tumor cell (CTC)-based diagnostics for various cancers, the partners said on Thursday.
Ikonisys has developed a fully automated fluorescence microscopy system, called the Ikoniscope, that can scan, analyze, and digitally image up to 2 million cells on a single slide. The New Haven, Connecticut-based company offers a number of software applications for slides prepared with various FISH probes including ones for PTEN gene deletions in prostate tissue biopsies and ALK mutations in non-small cell lung cancer.
Under the terms of the deal, Sheba researchers will identify CTC-based biomarker panels for specific cancers, which will be evaluated as potential new Ikoniscope tests, including those for treatment monitoring, as well as for use as companion diagnostics. Additional terms were not disclosed.
"This partnership validates our proprietary Ikoniscope technology and coincides with the launch of our second-generation system," Ikonisys CSO Michael Kilpatrick said in a statement. "The cooperation also enables us to further expand Ikonisys' product portfolio, strengthening our commitment in the world of CTCs to continuously improve cancer treatment."