BILLERICA, Mass.--(BUSINESS WIRE)--RainDance Technologies, Inc., a genomics tools company simplifying the analysis of complex genetic diseases, today announced the formation of the RainDance HemOnc Consortium, composed of a select group of hematologic clinical research experts drawn from prominent comprehensive cancer centers in the U.S. and Europe. Members of the consortium will present first data on a new ThunderBolts Myeloid Panel using next-generation sequencing (NGS) during the American Society of Hematology (ASH) Annual Meeting in San Francisco on December 6-9, 2014.
The HemOnc Consortium partnered with RainDance to address the unmet need for a highly accurate, rapid, simple, and low-cost NGS panel to study myeloid disorders, especially in genes that are difficult to routinely detect with existing methods. The ThunderBolts Myeloid Panel, the first RainDance product co-developed with the HemOnc Consortium, is a targeted NGS assay which enables cancer researchers to analyze important genes implicated in the causation, prognosis and recurrence of myeloid disorders. The HemOnc Consortium will also work with RainDance to develop a proprietary digital PCR (dPCR) portfolio of cell-free mutation assays to study and monitor the status of important genes in hematologic oncology progression and relapse.
“The MLL (Munich Leukemia Laboratory) has worked with RainDance for several years to develop cutting-edge targeted sequencing panels for myeloid malignancies,” said Torsten Haferlach, M.D., Member of the HemOnc Consortium and CEO at MLL. “The new ThunderBolts Myeloid Panel provides us with the most up-to-date and comprehensive assay for detecting myeloid gene mutations, and the ability to follow up sequencing by sensitively tracking mutations in plasma using RainDance’s digital PCR system.”
The ThunderBolts Myeloid Panel covers approximately 50 genes including full exons and/or targeted regions of challenging genes such as CEBPA, NOTCH1, NPM1, and IDH1&2. The panel provides 100 percent coverage at 100x sequencing depth and more than 95 percent coverage at 1000x depth with greater than 95 percent uniformity, equivalent to sensitivity at or below five percent mutation frequencies. Starting input DNA requirements are as low as 10ng. The workflow is also simple with integrated sequencing and indexing adapters to eliminate library preparation for total turnaround time of less than two days (sample to sequencing data).
“We feel the ThunderBolts Myeloid Panel is an exciting tool that interrogates the spectrum of relevant genetic variants and may improve NGS workflow and library quality,” added Eric Padron, M.D., Member of the HemOnc Consortium and Section Head of Genomics and Personalized Medicine in the Malignant Hematology Department at Moffitt Cancer Center.
“Our goal with the ThunderBolts Myeloid Panel is to provide researchers and the industry with a single rapid, highly accurate and low-cost sequencing assay in an area of high unmet need,” said Roopom Banerjee, RainDance Technologies’ President and CEO. “This product pairs well with our RainDrop Digital PCR System, which enables researchers to study and follow important driver mutations in circulating cell-free fluids.”
2014 American Society of Hematology Annual Meeting and Exposition
RainDance is showcasing its products for liquid biopsy applications at the American Society of Hematology (ASH) Annual Meeting in San Francisco at booth #2645.
About RainDance Technologies
RainDance Technologies is making complex genetics simple. The company’s ultra-sensitive genomic tools enable research of novel non-invasive liquid biopsy applications that should result in more accurate, reliable, cost-effective, and early detection of cancer and other inherited and infectious diseases. Major research institutions and laboratories around the world rely on the performance of RainDance systems. Based outside Boston, Massachusetts, the company supports customers using RainDrop® Digital PCR and ThunderStorm® Next-Generation Sequencing Content Enrichment Systems through its international sales and service operations, as well as a global network of distributors and commercial service providers. Both technology platforms have been recognized by The Scientist as Top 10 Innovations with the RainDrop System winning the award in 2014 and ThunderStorm System in 2011. For more information, please visit www.RainDanceTech.com.
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The ThunderBolts Myeloid Panel, RainDrop Digital PCR System and ThunderStorm NGS Content Enrichment System are for Research Use Only. Not for use in diagnostic procedures.
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