Agilent Technologies Extends Collaboration on Reproductive Genetics
January 18 2017 - 11:00AM
Business Wire
New Two-Year Agreement with Belgian University to Focus on
Detecting Genetic Abnormalities in Cell-free DNA and Embryo
Biopsies
Agilent Technologies Inc. (NYSE:A) today announced that it is
extending its collaboration with the Centre for Human Genetics of
the University of Leuven and the University Hospital of Leuven in
Belgium. Joris Vermeesch, chair of the Centre for Human Genetics
and a leading expert in human genetics, will coordinate the
collaboration.
The earlier collaboration preceded the commercial launch of
Agilent’s OneSight software platform, which helps researchers
visualize and explore chromosomal and sub-chromosomal aneuploidies
in cell-free DNA sequencing data. Over the past few years, interest
in cell-free DNA analysis has strongly increased, not only because
it can be used to perform non-invasive prenatal testing, but also
because cfDNA can be found in liquid biopsies from cancer patients.
In addition, recent evidence suggests that cfDNA can be found in an
embryo’s blastocoel fluid and culture medium and used for
preimplantation genetic screening.
The two teams are also investigating comprehensive solutions for
preimplantation genetic testing, which could enable labs to use a
single sequencing workflow to perform preimplantation genetic
diagnoses for single gene disorders and translocation carriers as
well as PGS for chromosomal abnormalities on the same embryo
biopsy. The PGT development efforts are also supported by a grant
from the Flemish government.
The collaborators estimate that a commercial solution for PGT
analysis could be ready as early as this year, followed by a more
extensive evaluation of the clinical utility of the PGT solution to
discriminate between mitotic and meiotic aneuploidies and detect
triploidy and uniparental isodisomy in embryo biopsies. These
chromosomal abnormalities cannot be accurately detected by the
currently available commercial solutions for PGS. It is the
ultimate goal to enable the IVF community to reduce the number of
IVF cycles and time that are needed to achieve a healthy live
birth. If confirmed, the reduction in cost and time might then be
the main drivers to obtain reimbursement with the corresponding
authorities.
“Agilent is very excited to extend our collaboration with Prof.
Vermeesch, with whom we’ve had a close partnership for the past two
years. This is a unique and excellent example of a
government-industry-academia partnership designed to translate
innovative research into commercial solutions that address unmet
needs in the human reproductive genetics space,” said Herman
Verrelst, Agilent vice president and general manager of the
company’s Genomics Division.
Joris Vermeesch, chair of the Centre for Human Genetics, added,
“During the last ten years the laboratory has been developing
innovative approaches to analyze single cells, embryos and
cell-free DNA. The collaboration with Agilent allows us to
make the products user-friendly, speed up the clinical
implementation, and reach out worldwide.”
About Agilent Technologies
Agilent Technologies Inc. (NYSE: A), a global leader in
life sciences, diagnostics and applied chemical markets, is the
premier laboratory partner for a better world. Agilent works with
customers in more than 100 countries, providing instruments,
software, services and consumables for the entire laboratory
workflow. The company generated revenues of $4.20 billion in fiscal
2016 and employs about 12,500 people worldwide. Information about
Agilent is available at www.agilent.com.
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Agilent TechnologiesVictoria Wadsworth-Hansen, +1
408-553-2005victoria.wadsworth-hansen@agilent.com
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