MGI and Curetis to Collaborate on NGS-based Infectious Disease Diagnostics
(Thomson Reuters ONE) -
Curetis /
MGI and Curetis to Collaborate on NGS-based Infectious Disease Diagnostics
. Processed and transmitted by Nasdaq Corporate Solutions.
The issuer is solely responsible for the content of this announcement.
MGI and Curetis to Collaborate on NGS-based Infectious Disease Diagnostics
* Broad collaboration to develop a targeted Next-Generation Sequencing assay
for microbial infections
* Workflow for native samples integrating MGI and Curetis instrumentation
* Curetis' subsidiary Ares Genetics to provide assay design and data
interpretation app
Amsterdam, the Netherlands, and Holzgerlingen, Germany, September 12, 2017;
published at 07 am ET -- Curetis N.V. (the "Company" and, together with Curetis
GmbH, "Curetis"), a developer of next-level molecular diagnostic solutions, and
MGI, a fully-owned subsidiary of BGI Group, one of the world's leading genome
sequencing centers headquartered in Shenzhen, Guangdong, P. R. China, today
announced that they have signed a Memorandum of Understanding (MoU) for a broad
collaboration to develop targeted Next-Generation Sequencing (NGS) IVD assays
for microbial infections.
The assay will target a comprehensive panel of pathogens and genetic antibiotic
resistance markers and will be applicable to a wide spectrum of native patient
sample types. The intended laboratory workflow will combine the Unyvero L4
Lysator by Curetis with MGI's SP100 Sample Preparation System and MGISeq NGS
Sequencers to allow fully automated lysis, DNA extraction, NGS library
preparation and sequencing or an integrated workstation. The resulting NGS data
will be interpreted for pathogen identification and genetic antibiotic
resistance markers by an app as a part of the data analysis software. The app
will be developed by Ares Genetics GmbH, a wholly-owned subsidiary of Curetis
GmbH based in Vienna, Austria. The assay will be commercialized by MGI in
Greater China first and potentially by Curetis in other geographies. Financial
details were not disclosed.
Under the terms of the agreement, MGI will provide hardware and chemistry
integration and develop an automated workflow as well as manufacture the
targeted NGS assays. MGI will also be in charge of validating the assay and
seeking regulatory approval as needed. Curetis and Ares Genetics will provide
expertise in sample preparation technologies, panel design and NGS sequencing
assay design using its GEAR GEnetic Antibiotic Resistance and Susceptibility
database. Ares will also develop a data interpretation application that
automates the bioinformatics analysis of the NGS data and supports the
interpretation and visualization of NGS results on pathogens and antibiotic
resistance markers detected by the assay to facilitate the deployment of the
assay in the clinical routine. Ares and BGI Group will be supported by Prof. Dr.
Andreas Keller from the Center for Bioinformatics at Saarland University, the
leading academic partner in the development of the GEAR.
The partners entered into a first collaboration agreement under the MoU to
assess the feasibility of using MGISeq sequencing data with the GEAR database.
Curetis and MGI expect to enter into further agreements to cover other aspects
of the collaboration, e.g. hardware and chemistry integration, OEM manufacturing
and supply, design of panel and assays, and licensing and distribution.
"The planned collaboration is an excellent example for leveraging Curetis'
molecular microbiology expertise and its solutions in combination with GEAR,"
said Dr. Achim Plum, CBO of Curetis and a Managing Director at Ares Genetics.
"The synergies with MGI will turn us into a first mover in NGS-based IVDs for
severe microbial infections." He added that Ares is also in discussions with
other industry players. "This is one of several ways we can capitalize on the
tremendous potential of GEAR."
"NGS offers the unique possibility to dissect increasingly complex resistance
patterns in microbial pathogens in a single test. However, this requires smart
data interpretation and clinical decision support. BGI Group sequencing
technology combined with the GEAR database allows the translation of NGS
technology into meaningful diagnostic applications for complex microbial
infections. Therefore, I am excited to support both companies in this endeavor,"
commented Prof. Dr. Keller.
"NGS-based diagnostics of pathogens and resistances is becoming more and more
feasible," said Dr. Andreas Posch, also a Managing Director at Ares Genetics.
"To this end, panel design and data interpretation are key. That's where the
tremendous data collection of GEAR and the BioIT expertise of Ares Genetics
comes in. Our goal is to create the next generation of molecular microbiology."
"Today, NGS is dominating the sequencing space in genomic research," said Dr.
Hui Jiang, Chief Operation Officer of MGI, "But it is already entering clinical
practice, e.g. in prenatal screening and cancer diagnostics. While it already is
a key technology in infectious disease research today, the unique features of
NGS, the technological advances, the workflow integration and automation as well
as the affordability make NGS more and more applicable to the clinical
diagnostics of infectious diseases. MGI intends to be a first mover in this
space and is very pleased to work with the Curetis Group."
###
About MGI
MGI (MGI Tech Co., Limited) is a part of BGI Group, one of the world's largest
genomics organizations. BGI Group was founded in 1999 with the vision of using
genomics to benefit humanity and has been growing exponentially since then. With
a focus on research and applications in the healthcare, agriculture,
conservation, and environmental fields, BGI Group has a proven track record of
innovative, high profile research and operates China National Genome Bank
through governmental contracts.
MGI is dedicated to develop, manufacture and distribute instruments, reagents
and devices/assays through innovation and collaboration. Since its acquisition
of CGI (Complete Genomics Incorporation), MGI adsorbed its technologies quickly
and developed a serial of genetic sequencers such as BGISEQ1000, BGISEQ500, and
MGISEQ50 etc. MGI's mission is to "Make Great Instrument and Make It Smart" so
as to provide in a real time a digitized panoramic view of a living thing at all
time and advance life science to service genomics, proteomics and beyond.
About Curetis and Ares Genetics
Founded in 2007, Curetis is a molecular diagnostics company which focuses on the
development and commercialization of reliable, fast and cost-effective products
for diagnosing severe infectious diseases. The diagnostic solutions of Curetis
enable rapid multi-parameter pathogen and antibiotic resistance marker detection
in only a few hours, a process that today can take up to days or even weeks with
other techniques.
To date, Curetis has raised EUR 44.3 million in an IPO on Euronext Amsterdam and
Euronext Brussels and private equity funds of over EUR 63.5 million.
Furthermore, Curetis has entered into a debt financing facility with EIB for up
to EUR 25 million. The company is based in Holzgerlingen near Stuttgart,
Germany. Curetis collaborates with Heraeus Medical, pharmaceutical companies,
and has entered into several international distribution agreements covering many
countries across Europe, the Middle East and Asia.
In 2017, Curetis established Ares Genetics GmbH, a wholly-owned subsidiary of
Curetis GmbH in Vienna, Austria. Ares Genetics is dedicated to maximize the R&D
and related scientific and business opportunities of the GEAR assets acquired in
2016 for the entire Curetis Group.
For further information, please visit www.curetis.com.
Curetis' Legal Disclaimer
This document constitutes neither an offer to buy nor to subscribe securities
and neither this document nor any part of it should form the basis of any
investment decision in Curetis.
The information contained in this press release has been carefully prepared.
However, Curetis bears and assumes no liability of whatever kind for the
correctness and completeness of the information provided herein. Curetis does
not assume an obligation of whatever kind to update or correct information
contained in this press release whether as a result of new information, future
events or for other reasons.
This press release includes statements that are, or may be deemed to be,
"forward-looking statements". These forward-looking statements can be identified
by the use of forward-looking terminology, including the terms "believes",
"estimates", "anticipates", "expects", "intends", "may", "will", or "should",
and include statements Curetis makes concerning the intended results of its
strategy. By their nature, forward-looking statements involve risks and
uncertainties and readers are cautioned that any such forward-looking statements
are not guarantees of future performance. Curetis' actual results may differ
materially from those predicted by the forward-looking statements. Curetis
undertakes no obligation to publicly update or revise forward-looking
statements, except as may be required by law.
Curetis' Contact Details
Curetis GmbH
Max-Eyth-Str. 42
71088 Holzgerlingen, Germany
Tel. +49 7031 49195-10
pr(at)curetis.com or ir(at)curetis.com
www.curetis.com - www.unyvero.com
International Media & Investor Inquiries
akampion
Dr. Ludger Wess / Ines-Regina Buth
Managing Partners
info((at))akampion.com
Tel. +49 40 88 16 59 64
Tel. +49 30 23 63 27 68
U.S. Media & Investor Inquiries
The Ruth Group
Lee Roth
lroth(at)theruthgroup.com
Tel. +1 646 536 7012
20170912_Curetis_PR_EN_MGI:
http://hugin.info/171382/R/2133477/815952.pdf
Curetis_Logo:
http://hugin.info/171382/R/2133477/815955.jpg
This announcement is distributed by Nasdaq Corporate Solutions on behalf of Nasdaq Corporate Solutions clients.
The issuer of this announcement warrants that they are solely responsible for the content, accuracy and originality of the information contained therein.
Source: Curetis via GlobeNewswire
Unternehmensinformation / Kurzprofil:
Datum: 12.09.2017 - 13:06 Uhr
Sprache: Deutsch
News-ID 559619
Anzahl Zeichen: 11407
contact information:
Town:
Holzgerlingen
Kategorie:
Business News
Diese Pressemitteilung wurde bisher 201 mal aufgerufen.
Die Pressemitteilung mit dem Titel:
"MGI and Curetis to Collaborate on NGS-based Infectious Disease Diagnostics"
steht unter der journalistisch-redaktionellen Verantwortung von
Curetis (Nachricht senden)
Beachten Sie bitte die weiteren Informationen zum Haftungsauschluß (gemäß TMG - TeleMedianGesetz) und dem Datenschutz (gemäß der DSGVO).
