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news.Genomics and proteomics-based research and diagnostics firm Sengenics has acquired Oxford Gene Technology’s (OGT) protein array technology, a patented auto-antibody profiling platform which was spun out from research that was commercialised as a joint collaboration between the University of Oxford and the University of Cambridge in 1996.
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It is anticipated that the acquisition will strengthen the company’s foothold in the Proteomics market and provide its customers added flexibility to leverage this exciting technology to model the immune system.
Sengenics chief science advisor Jonathan Blackburn said: "The role of immune system dysfunction in cancers, as well as in acute responses in microbial infections and failed drug clinical trials, is increasingly well recognised today, as evidenced by recent high profile publications in major journals.
"In addition, many other conditions, including Autism, Parkinson’s and metabolic disorders, are also thought to result from abnormal autoimmune responses. The broad clinical applications of the Immunome protein array in profiling and quantifying differential autoimmune responses in disease and treatment therefore convinced Sengenics to acquire this unique technology from OGT."
Sengenics has already utilised the Immunome technology with a very high success rate for more than 50 studies in the USA, Europe and Asia. Most collaborators have moved on to validate their findings and establish IP positions relating to protein biomarkers.
OGT CEO Mike Evans said: "The protein array platform offers a unique approach for the identification of biomarkers for human disease. We are delighted that Sengenics recognizes the scientific value of this proteomics technology, which was outside of OGT’s strategic focus on genomic products."
The Immunome protein array is the only protein array platform in the world where every protein is full-length, correctly folded and functionally validated. The patented use of the BCCP tag ensures that only correctly folded proteins are immobilised on a solid surface.
Key applications of the technology include monitoring differential immune response to drugs and vaccines in clinical trials, as well as modelling viral or bacterial infection. In addition, diagnostic biomarkers can be discovered for any disease that involves the immune system, such as cancer, neurodegenerative and autoimmune disorders.
Sengenics will be offering Immunome both as a product and as a service. Immunome protein microarray slides and associated reagents, and software will be available for purchase by customers to run in their own lab. Customers can also choose to send samples to one of Sengenics labs. Patents and/or biomarkers can also be licensed and used for a defined disease or purpose.