Almac Group to Collaborate with Illumina on Next-Generation Sequencing Based Companion Diagnostic Development
November 12, 2015
Craigavon, N.I., UK, – 12 November 2015 – Almac Diagnostic Services today announced that it had entered into a collaboration with Illumina, Inc. (NASDAQ: ILMN) to establish a framework for the development of next-generation sequencing (NGS)-based companion diagnostic assays.
The collaboration enables Almac to develop next-generation sequencing (NGS) assays using the Illumina MiSeqDx® instrument, the first FDA-cleared IVD NGS system designed specifically for the clinical laboratory environment.
Almac offers significant expertise in the development and delivery of multiplex RNA and DNA based tests and currently partners with a number of major biopharmaceutical companies to assist with companion diagnostic development. The collaboration with Illumina serves to provide an additional platform for delivery of complex assays expanding the options available to Almac partners.
‘We are extremely pleased to announce this collaboration with Illumina. We are fully committed to the development of precision medicine and partnerships of this nature provide more avenues for test delivery, enabling development of diagnostic tests which will ultimately improve care in a wide range of disease areas,’ said Professor Paul Harkin, President and Managing Director of Almac Diagnostic Services.
About Almac Group
‘Partnering to Advance Human Health’
The Almac Group is an established contract development and manufacturing organization that provides an extensive range of integrated services to over 600 companies globally within the pharmaceutical and biotech sectors. The services range from R&D, biomarker discovery and development, API manufacture, formulation development, clinical trial supply, IXRS® technology (IVRS/IWRS) through to commercial-scale manufacture.
The international company is a privately owned organization that has organically grown over 40 years and now employs in excess of 4,000 highly skilled personnel. Almac is headquartered in Craigavon, Northern Ireland with operations across the US (Pennsylvania, North Carolina and California) and in Asia (Singapore and Tokyo).
Almac Diagnostic Services is one of six business units operating under the ownership of the Almac Group. The global company partners with the biopharmaceutical industry supporting the discovery, development and delivery of companion diagnostics. In addition, Almac Diagnostic Services has a pipeline of proprietary oncology based tests in development in therapeutic areas including breast, colon, ovarian, prostate and lung cancer.
For more information visit almacgroup.com or e-mail [email protected].