GE Healthcare Announces Commercial Availability of New Methodology That Provides a Cancer Profile on a Single Slide
May 31, 2013
--Groundbreaking method uses quantitative protein analysis to identify new biosignatures, for personalized treatments--
PRINCETON, NJ, May 31, 2013 – GE Healthcare today announced at the 2013 Annual Meeting of the American Society of Clinical Oncology its plans for the commercialization of MultiOmyx™, a ground-breaking new pathology platform, using proprietary methodology to analyze multiple proteins at a single-cell level. Traditional pathology uses multiple slices from paraffin-fixed tumor samples and examines them slide by slide, which is less efficient and effective. The platform, already in use in research, will now be introduced to the clinical environment and initially available for testing through a global service offering in Hodgkin lymphoma in July 2013 in GE Healthcare’s CLIA licensed laboratory – Clarient Diagnostic Services, Inc. – a GE Healthcare Company.
MultiOmyx will enable pathologists to view multiple stains on a single tumor slice, and analyze the results at a single cell level. MultiOmyx, originally developed by GE Healthcare’s Global Research Center, will be made available commercially by Clarient. The platform uses fluorescence to provide quantitative analysis of tumor antibodies and allows for more than 175 proteins to be examined on a single tissue sample.
“MultiOmyx opens up new possibilities for cancer research and development of innovative cancer prognostics and differential diagnostics,” said Carrie Eglinton Manner, CEO, Clarient. “Using a single slide saves time, uses significantly less tissue and provides a far more consistent result. Since different parts of a tumor sample can act differently and because less tissue is required, pathologists can access the most accurate and broad tumor analysis available, while eliminating today’s need to prioritize tests due to limited tissue availability.”
The automated technology creates a “digital map” of the tumor, giving each cell an “address” and allowing for a clear graphic representation of protein expression. Matching this map to known biosignatures, or clinical information, gives researchers and pathologists a more accurate representation of the exact characteristics of the tumor and provides clinicians with a clearer view to the diagnosis. It also allows them to identify patterns in the tissue by analyzing each cell and biomarker individually, or as a cluster, and thus get a level of understanding of the biological process that could not be achieved via traditional immunohistochemistry process.
“In many instances, suspected Hodgkin lymphoma cases are not straightforward, and sample tissue size inadequacy issues further complicate the matter,” said Lawrence Weiss, MD, Medical Director of Clarient. “Clarient utilized the innovative platform of MultiOmyx and developed a methodology to assess a set of markers on a single tissue section, identifying the level of expression of these markers on the very same cells, as opposed to working with serial sections which each contain different cells. In difficult to call diagnoses, MultiOmyx gives me great confidence in making the diagnosis and relieves me from the concern of running out of tissue. If I only have a small amount of tissue, I do not have to sacrifice or choose between important markers – I can assess them all.”
“If we can have a much deeper understanding of what we see in a tumor, on a slide, region of interest or at a cellular level we can make references to known characteristics – metastasis, mortality, response to therapy and others – allowing for better guide programs of care and treatments for patients,” added Eglinton Manner.
Clarient Diagnostic Services, Inc., acquired by GE Healthcare in December, 2010, combines innovative diagnostic technologies with world class pathology expertise to assess cancer. Clarient is a leading provider of diagnostic laboratory services, such as flow cytometry and molecular testing, and develops and markets new, proprietary diagnostic assays for therapeutics for breast, prostate, lung, ovarian, and colon cancers, and leukemia/lymphoma. Clarient also develops and validates new assays for its customers, speeding their use in the broader clinical setting.
Cancer is one of the leading causes of death in the world. At GE, we envision a day when cancer is no longer a deadly disease. Today’s announcement reinforces our commitment to fight cancer and reflects our current integrated portfolio and GE Healthcare’s $1B R&D investment to advance oncology solutions by 2016. In parallel, GE's Healthymagination commitment is aimed at accelerating cancer innovation and improving care for 10 million cancer patients around the world by 2020. These commitments uniquely position GE to drive game-changing impact in oncology and a leap forward for individualized cancer care.
About GE Global Research
GE Global Research is one of the world's most diversified industrial research organizations, providing innovative technology for all of GE's businesses. Global Research has been the cornerstone of GE technology for more than 100 years, and is now focused on developing breakthrough innovations in areas such as molecular medicine, alternative energy, nanotechnology, advanced propulsion, and security technologies. GE Global Research is headquartered in Niskayuna, N.Y. and has facilities in Bangalore, India; Shanghai, China; and Munich, Germany. Visit Global Research at www.ge.com/research.
About GE Healthcare
GE Healthcare provides transformational medical technologies and services to meet the demand for increased access, enhanced quality and more affordable healthcare around the world. GE (NYSE: GE) works on things that matter - great people and technologies taking on tough challenges. From medical imaging, software & IT, patient monitoring and diagnostics to drug discovery, biopharmaceutical manufacturing technologies and performance improvement solutions, GE Healthcare helps medical professionals deliver great healthcare to their patients.
For our latest news, please visit http://newsroom.gehealthcare.com
About Clarient Diagnostic Services, Inc. Clarient Diagnostic Services, Inc. is a leading provider of comprehensive, cancer–diagnostic laboratory services. With its advanced technologies, Clarient is able to provide pathologists and oncologist with more accurate and detailed information to better characterize and assess cancer which can lead to more accurate diagnoses and more effective treatment. In addition, Clarient’s services are finding more efficient ways to reduce the cost as well as accelerating the drug development process to identify and develop treating pharmaceuticals that can result in better outcomes for patients.
From its state-of-the-art diagnostic laboratory to its Internet-based PATHSiTE®, Clarient delivers advanced oncology diagnostic services to pathologists, oncologists, hospitals and biopharmaceutical companies throughout the U.S. Clarient also is developing proprietary companion diagnostic tests for therapeutics in breast, prostate, lung and colon cancers, as well as leukemia/lymphoma.
Clarient is improving the lives of those affected by cancer by bringing clarity to a complex disease.
For more information visit www.clarientinc.com.
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