Rubicon Genomics Enters into Collaboration Agreement with OncoMethylome Sciences

Jan. 22, 2007 — PR Newswire

Rubicon Genomics, Inc. today announced a Collaboration Agreement with OncoMethylome Sciences for the identification of biomarkers for early detection of cancer. Rubicon plans to use its MethylPlex™ platform to carry out the marker identification analysis. As part of the agreement, Rubicon granted an option to OncoMethylome for licensing markers resulting from the collaboration. This is the second such marker identification agreement between the two companies, and OncoMethylome Sciences has already licensed a set of markers from Rubicon.

Cancer cells alter the normal patterns of DNA methylation giving the tumor the ability to grow and spread. The patterns of abnormal methylation in DNA are strong predictors of the presence of cancer as well as other diseases. MethylPlex™ is a method for identifying multi-gene patterns of abnormal DNA methylation during tumor formation and progression.

"We believe that detection of methylated DNA biomarkers is the most sensitive and specific method for early detection and characterization of cancer," said Fred Beyerlein, President and CEO of Rubicon Genomics. "We are looking forward to again be working with OncoMethylome Sciences, a recognized leader in the field of methylation."

About Rubicon Genomics, Inc.

Rubicon, located in Ann Arbor, MI, is a pre-analytical platform company that has developed and commercialized reagents and kits to increase the analytical and clinical performances of DNA and RNA analysis platforms including Q-PCR, microarrays, and next-gen sequencing. Its GenomePlex™, TransPlex™, and MethylPlex™ products achieve unbiased amplification and standardization of total DNA, total RNA, and methylated DNA. By producing highly pure DNA of uniform concentration and molecular weight these products increase the sensitivity, specificity, and reproducibility of conventional instrumentation in research and diagnostic applications, including analysis of formalin-fixed tissue, plasma, and single cells. Currently GenomePlex and TransPlex kits are sold to the research-only market by Sigma-Aldrich, while Rubicon sells customized GenomePlex and TransPlex services to the research market, as well as licenses and kits to the clinical markets. Rubicon partners with diagnostic companies, using its pre-analytical MethylPlex platform to discover and validate new DNA methylation biomarkers, and to co-develop cancer diagnostic tests. For more information contact John Langmore, VP Commercial Development, using our contact form or (734) 368-1705.