Specialized CRO offers high-definition tissue imaging services for pharmaceutical and clinical research
SOUTH SAN FRANCISCO, Calif. and PORTLAND, Ore., Nov. 01, 2018 (GLOBE NEWSWIRE) -- Sirona Dx, a leader in high-complexity genomics and proteomics services, today announced the introduction of Imaging Mass Cytometry™ services on the Fluidigm Hyperion™ Imaging System to advance biomarker discovery and therapeutic development.
Sirona Dx is a specialized contract research organization (CRO) that provides high-quality clinical research services to pharmaceutical and clinical research clients and focuses on offering early access to advanced technologies.
With a goal of providing innovative approaches to expand drug discovery pipelines and bring more effective therapies to market, Sirona Dx decided to add multiplex tissue imaging to its growing technology portfolio. Noticing impressive Imaging Mass Cytometry results from top pharmaceutical companies and leading academic medical centers, Sirona Dx engaged Akil Merchant, M.D., Assistant Professor at the University of Southern California Keck School of Medicine, as a Scientific Advisor to assess its full potential.
“After a comprehensive evaluation of different tissue imaging technologies, Imaging Mass Cytometry was the clear choice. Imaging Mass Cytometry will enable our clients to resolve complex cellular networks and signaling pathways within tissue microenvironments with unprecedented definition,” said Nasry Yassa, Ph.D., Chief Executive Officer of Sirona Dx. “The early response from our pharma partners has been extremely positive. Our clients are expressing significant interest in using Imaging Mass Cytometry to advance their research goals and are pleased to access this new technology through an experienced CRO. Sirona Dx has exciting projects underway and additional requests coming in from top pharmaceutical companies.”
Developed for research use, Imaging Mass Cytometry enables simultaneous imaging of up to 37 protein markers from a single scan of formalin-fixed, paraffin-embedded (FFPE) or fresh tissue sections at subcellular resolution. Using proven CyTOF® technology, Imaging Mass Cytometry surpasses the inherent limitations of fluorescence detection by using high-purity metal tags that are separated by mass instead of by wavelength. With an established global footprint and 18 scientific publications to date, Imaging Mass Cytometry is rapidly setting a new standard for highly multiplexed tissue imaging.
“By preserving tissue architecture and cellular morphology information, Imaging Mass Cytometry is ideal for understanding complex tissue microenvironments. It is especially useful for monitoring changes in the immune system in a variety of disease states such as cancer or auto-immunity,” said Dr. Merchant. “With easily customizable panel designs using available pre-conjugated antibodies or metal conjugation kits, Imaging Mass Cytometry is a valuable tool for translational and clinical research across a range of disease areas.”
“Sirona Dx is our first Imaging Mass Cytometry CRO partner in the United States,” said Chris Linthwaite, President and CEO of Fluidigm. “Expanding market accessibility is a top priority for unlocking the full potential of Imaging Mass Cytometry. CRO partners play a critical role in providing valuable expertise, accelerating new health insights.”
About Sirona Dx
Sirona Dx is a technical CRO founded to accelerate the pace of targeted therapy development to improve outcomes for cancer patients. Bridging silos between diagnostics manufacturers, translational clinical research, and clinical service labs, Sirona Dx collaborates with leading platform providers to offer pharmaceutical and clinical research clients early access to advanced technologies.
Sirona Dx operates out of a CLIA certified laboratory facility in Portland, Oregon, offering specialized high-complexity genomics and proteomics services to support pharmaceutical companies with their drug discovery and development programs.
About Fluidigm Corporation
Fluidigm (NASDAQ:FLDM) develops, manufactures, and markets life science analytical and preparatory systems for markets such as mass cytometry, high-throughput genomics, and single‑cell genomics. We sell to leading academic institutions, clinical research laboratories, and pharmaceutical, biotechnology, and agricultural biotechnology companies worldwide. Our systems are based on proprietary microfluidics and multiparameter mass cytometry technology and are designed to significantly simplify experimental workflow, increase throughput, and reduce costs while providing excellent data quality. Fluidigm products are provided for Research Use Only. Not for use in diagnostic procedures.
We use our website (www.fluidigm.com), corporate Twitter account (@fluidigm), Facebook page (https://www.facebook.com/fluidigm), and LinkedIn page (https://www.linkedin.com/company/fluidigm-corporation) as channels of distribution of information about our products, our planned financial and other announcements, our attendance at upcoming investor and industry conferences, and other matters. Such information may be deemed material information, and we may use these channels to comply with our disclosure obligations under Regulation FD. Therefore, investors should monitor our website and our social media accounts in addition to following our press releases, SEC filings, public conference calls, and webcasts.
Fluidigm, the Fluidigm logo, Hyperion, and Imaging Mass Cytometry are trademarks and/or registered trademarks of Fluidigm Corporation in the United States and/or other countries.
Forward-Looking Statements
This press release contains forward-looking statements within the meaning of the Private Securities Litigation Reform Act of 1995, including, among others, statements regarding the potential impact of Fluidigm products on translational research. Forward-looking statements are subject to numerous risks and uncertainties that could cause actual results to differ materially from currently anticipated results, including but not limited to risks relating to challenges inherent in developing, manufacturing, launching, marketing, and selling new products; the uncertain regulatory environment; potential product performance and quality issues; intellectual property risks; competition; and interruptions or delays in the supply of components or materials for, or manufacturing of, Fluidigm products. Information on these and additional risks and uncertainties and other information affecting Fluidigm business and operating results are contained in Fluidigm’s Annual Report on Form 10-K for the year ended December 31, 2017, and in its other filings with the Securities and Exchange Commission, including Fluidigm’s Quarterly Report on Form 10-Q for the quarter ended June 30, 2018. These forward-looking statements speak only as of the date hereof. Fluidigm disclaims any obligation to update these forward-looking statements except as may be required by law.
Contacts:
Sirona Dx
Nasry Yassa
Chief Executive Officer
503 442 3580
info@sironadx.com
Fluidigm
Media:
Michaeline Bunting
Senior Director, Marketing
650 737 4190
michaeline.bunting@fluidigm.com
Investors:
Agnes Lee
Vice President, Investor Relations
650 416 7423
agnes.lee@fluidigm.com