NEW YORK (GenomeWeb) – EpicGenetics announced today that it is collaborating with two university research centers to clinically evaluate its FM/a protein biomarker test for fibromyalgia, and to identify new genetic markers of the disorder.
The lab-developed test, which was launched in 2013, is designed to diagnose fibromyalgia by measuring levels of five cytokines and chemokines produced by white blood cells upon challenge with mitogens. According to the company, fibromyalgia patients produce significantly lower levels of these proteins than healthy individuals.
EpicGenetics said that it has partnered with the University of California, Los Angeles and the University of Illinois College of Medicine Chicago, which will sequence the exomes of individuals who have received a positive FM/a test result. The company plans to use the data to identify the cause of fibromyalgia and uncover new disease-specific gene biomarkers.
EpicGenetics said that it will offer the sequencing free of charge to FM/a test-positive individuals as part of its Campaign 250 program, which aims to perform whole-exome sequencing on up to 250,000 fibromyalgia patients.