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Viome, Helomics Form Microbiome Analysis Partnership

NEW YORK (GenomeWeb) — Viome announced today that it has partnered with Helomics to investigate the associations between ovarian cancer and the gut microbiome.

According to Seattle-based Viome, the partners are planning a pilot study that will examine the differences in the microbiomes of ovarian cancer patients versus healthy individuals, how different cancer therapies can alter the microbiome, and if microbiome composition influences cancer treatment efficacy and toxicity.

Viome — which offers direct-to-consumer microbiome testing to guide nutritional choices — said it aims to use data from the study to understand how nutrition may aid in the recovery of post-treatment ovarian cancer patients.

The study will apply Viome's artificial intelligence technology and sequencing-based microbiome analysis platform — which analyzes stool samples to determine the microbial composition of the gut — with Helomics' tumor profiling technology and D-Chip searchable bioinformatics platform for mining proprietary multi-omic and clinical data.

Additional terms of the deal were not disclosed.

"The collaboration with Viome is groundbreaking, generating data from the microbiome combined with our existing data and using our respective AI platforms, to offer an innovative, holistic, and personalized approach to helping oncologists choose the best treatment options for patients with ovarian cancer," Helomics President and CEO Gerald Vardzel said in a statement.

In mid-2018, Precision Therapeutics signed an agreement to acquire the 75 percent of Pittsburgh-based Helomics that it does not already own. Precision shareholders are slated to vote on the transaction this month.