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
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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."
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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
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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
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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@curetis.com or ir@curetis.com
www.curetis.com - www.unyvero.com
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Investor Inquiries
akampion
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Managing Partners
info(@)akampion.com
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