Affymetrix and the Massachusetts General Hospital (MGH) inked a collaboration and licensing agreement to co-develop cancer biomarker tests using Affymetrix’ QuantiGene® ViewRNA Assay platform. Under terms of the deal Affymetrix retains the rights to commercialize any resulting biomarker tests.
QuantiGene ViewRNA is an in situ hybridization assay that Affymetrix claims can detect a single transcript in a single cell. The firm says the partnership with MGH will provide a route to expanding applications of the technology into the pathology and cancer research markets by providing new multiplex chromogenic in situ hybridization (CISH) and fluorescence in situ hybridization (FISH) RNA biomarker assays, which are validated on clinical samples for research applications.
“Advanced in situ RNA hybridization methods applied to less invasive clinical samples such as FFPE core biopsies, FNAs and CTCs have the potential of becoming powerful new tools to deliver diagnostics that enable the oncologist to personalize patient care,” states George Bers, vp and general manager, gene expression business unit manager—panomics, at Affymetrix.