Affymetrix Launches New OncoScan™ FFPE Assay Kit

Affymetrix Launches New OncoScan™ FFPE Assay Kit

Breakthrough assay provides genome wide solid tumor copy number analysis in only 48 hours from only 80ng input DNA

SANTA CLARA, Calif.--(BUSINESS WIRE)-- Affymetrix, Inc. (NAS: AFFX) announced the launch of the new OncoScan™ FFPE Assay Kit, a whole-genome copy number assay for highly degraded FFPE solid tumor samples, at the Cancer Cytogenomics Microarray Consortium conference being held in Chicago this week.

Despite the growing need of cancer researchers and clinicians, obtaining high-quality, whole-genome copy number data from degraded FFPE-derived tumor DNA has remained extremely challenging due to the limitations of current methods such as FISH, array CGH, and next-generation sequencing technologies.

The new OncoScan FFPE Assay Kit, utilizing Affymetrix' unique Molecular Inversion Probe (MIP) technology, is capable of analyzing small amounts of highly degraded DNA from FFPE samples quickly and affordably, providing a significant step forward in solid tumor cancer analysis.

This new product provides whole-genome copy number data with specifically enhanced high resolution in approximately 900 known cancer genes, loss of heterozygozity (LOH) across the whole genome as well as clinically relevant somatic mutation data − all from a single assay. An updated version of BioDiscovery's Nexus software, OncoScan™ Nexus Express Software, enables copy number calls for hundreds of samples in minutes and will be included with the product.

The new kit was successfully tested earlier this year in leading cancer research institutes, including M. D. Anderson Cancer Center, Memorial Sloan Kettering Cancer Center, and ARUP Laboratories.

"We performed testing of the new OncoScan™ FFPE Assay Kit at ARUP on multiple solid tumor tissues, including melanoma, glioma, breast carcinoma, and liposarcoma," commented Sarah South, Medical Director at ARUP Laboratories. "We used the recommended 80 ng of DNA from FFPE and were able to complete the assay over a 48-hour period. We were able to detect FISH-confirmed aberrations in several key cancer genes including ERBB2, MDM2, EGFR, and MYC suggesting that OncoScan FFPE Assay Kit can be considered a viable higher resolution and higher specificity alternative to FISH testing for confirmation of cancer gene aberrations in solid tumor tissue. Because OncoScan FFPE Assay Kit has whole-genome resolution, we also obtained valuable incremental copy number aberrations in these samples."

Professor Torsten Pietsch, MD, PhD, Institute of Neuropathology, University of Bonn observed that based on his experience with a large cohort of FFPE brain tumor samples, "We believe that the OncoScan FFPE Assay Kit is a robust platform for the rapid discovery and validation of novel prognostic copy number signatures, that may also be useful in a clinical setting for the detection of specific gains in tumors as markers for patient stratification."

"The significance of copy number aberrations is being established in an ever increasing number of genes; however, few studies have realized this potential for solid tumors because of the challenges of working with low-input FFPE samples," said Andy Last, Executive Vice President of the Genetic Analysis and Clinical Applications Business Unit at Affymetrix. "OncoScan FFPE Assay Kit is a game changer for cancer laboratories that want to quickly and affordably analyze hundreds of degraded FFPE samples to correlate copy number aberrations with outcomes data. In addition, the ability to detect a range of clinically relevant somatic mutations adds even more value to the assay and analysis."

The technology has previously been made available via the OncoScan™ FFPE Express 2.0 Service from the Affymetrix Research Services Laboratory and has demonstrated an unparalleled success rate, with more than 70 publications in the last two years. The platform enables detection in highly degraded samples unlocking a wealth of stored information in FFPE archives of ten years and older.

Affymetrix is accepting orders immediately and will begin shipping the product as early as September this year.

PLEASE NOTE: Affymetrix^®, the Affymetrix logo, and OncoScan™ trademarks are the property of Affymetrix, Inc. All other trademarks are the property of their respective owners.

Products mentioned in this release are for research use only. Not for diagnostic procedures.

SOURCE: Affymetrix, Inc.

Forward-looking statements

All statements in this press release that are not historical are "forward-looking statements" within the meaning of Section 21E of the Securities Exchange Act as amended, including statements regarding Affymetrix' "expectations," "beliefs," "hopes," "intentions," "strategies," or the like. Such statements are subject to risks and uncertainties that could cause actual results to differ materially for Affymetrix from those projected. These and other risk factors are discussed in Affymetrix' Form 10-K for the year ended December 31, 2012, and other SEC reports for subsequent quarterly periods.

About Affymetrix

Affymetrix technologies enable multiplex and simultaneous analysis of biological systems at the cell, protein, and gene level, facilitating the rapid translation of bench-top research into clinical and routine use for human health and wellness.

We strive to provide leadership and support, partnering with our customers in pharmaceutical, diagnostic, and biotechnology companies, as well as leading academic, government, and non-profit research institutes in their quest for answers toward using biology for a better world.

More than 2,300 microarray systems have been shipped around the world and more than 48,000 peer-reviewed papers have been published citing our technologies. Affymetrix is headquartered in Santa Clara, California, and has manufacturing facilities in Cleveland, Ohio, San Diego, Vienna and Singapore. The Company has about 1,100 employees worldwide and maintains sales and distribution operations across Europe, Asia, and Latin America. For more information about Affymetrix, please visit www.affymetrix.com.

Affymetrix, Inc.
Media Contact:
Mindy Lee-Olsen, 408-731-5523
Vice President, Marketing Services
mindy_lee-olsen@affymetrix.com
or
Investor Contact:
Doug Farrell, 408-731-5285
Vice President, Investor Relations
doug_farrell@affymetrix.com

KEYWORDS: United States North America California Illinois

INDUSTRY KEYWORDS:

The article Affymetrix Launches New OncoScan™ FFPE Assay Kit originally appeared on Fool.com.

Try any of our Foolish newsletter services free for 30 days. We Fools may not all hold the same opinions, but we all believe that considering a diverse range of insights makes us better investors. The Motley Fool has a disclosure policy.

Copyright © 1995 - 2013 The Motley Fool, LLC. All rights reserved. The Motley Fool has a disclosure policy.