Under the agreement, WuXi will also gain access to biomarkers from PBI to complement WuXi's own biomarker capabilities. PBI has a leading position in biomarkers for cardiovascular diseases, diabetes, obesity, acute kidney injury, musculoskeletal disorders, and inflammation. WuXi offers clinical biomarker services in anatomic pathology, hematology, genomics, and soluble biomarkers focusing on oncology and infectious diseases.
Dr. Ge Li, Chairman and CEO of WuXi PharmaTech said the deal broadens the company’s biomarker offerings. "Biomarkers are a new and important tool in the development of personalized medicines for many serious diseases," he added.
"Partnering with WuXi enables us to realize considerable value in our biomarker assets," said Ronald Helm, CEO of Pacific Biomarkers. "This agreement will allow us to support a broader spectrum of companies developing medicines in Asia with special emphasis on clinical trials performed in China."
NextGen Sequencing
The deal comes as the WuXi Genome Center also announced that it has purchased an Illumina HiSeq X Ten sequencing system.
The system will enable WuXi's clinical genomic services to expand from the current target panel, exome, and transcriptome scale sequencing to population genome scale sequencing.
The HiSeq X Ten is the world's first platform to deliver full coverage human genomes for $1,000, including typical instrument depreciation, DNA extraction, library preparation, and estimated labor.
Purpose-built for population-scale human whole genome sequencing, the HiSeq X Ten can sequence approximately 18,000 samples annually with high-quality, high-coverage sequencing. It is sold as a set of 10 or more ultra-high throughput sequencing systems, each generating up to 1.8 terabases (Tb) of sequencing data in less than three days or up to 600 gigabases (Gb) per day, per system.
Pacific Assays
The partnership with WuXi also comes as Pacific Biomarkers recently announced the release of ultra-sensitive biomarker assays using its Singulex Erenna Immunoassay technology.
Based on an innovative single-molecule counting technology (SMCT), these services are designed to provide sub-picogram sensitivity for analytes in a variety of matrices. The detection methodology extends the dynamic range to over 4 logarithms, allowing a wide range of biomarker measurement and hence minimal need for repeats.
For pharmacokinetic (PK) and/or pharmacodynamic (PD) studies, the high-definition immunoassay can accelerate pre-clinical and clinical research.
Singulex uses the patented Erenna Immunoassay System, a blend of known technology using innovative digital technology to measure single molecules at femtogram per mL concentrations.