Roche Acquires Signature Diagnostics to Advance Translational Research

Roche (Basel, Switzerland) will advance translational research for next generation sequencing (NGS) diagnostics by leveraging the unique expertise of Signature Diagnostics AG (Potsdam, Germany) in biobanks and development of novel NGS diagnostic assays.

Signature Diagnostics is a privately held translational oncology and genomics company that develops large blood plasma and tissue biobanks in multiple cancers (including colorectal and lung), constructed from multicenter prospective clinical studies. Signature uses the samples from its biobanks along with accompanying clinical progression and genetic data to develop and validate circulating cell free DNA (cfDNA) tests, toward advancing cost-effective noninvasive monitoring of patient treatment response. Signature will be integrated into Roche Sequencing Unit and will continue to focus on expanding its innovative genomic signature portfolio.

"Biobanks play an important role in uncovering the cause or origin of disease such as cancer which is important in translational research and the development of personalized therapies for patients," said Roland Diggelmann, COO, Roche Diagnostics, "Signature represents a unique bridge between high value cancer biobanks and NGS assay development. Roche plans to leverage Signature's expertise in both of these areas to accelerate the development of targeted NGS-based diagnostics in the future. Biobanks can also be used for biomarker discovery and hypothesis testing with Pharma."

"We are very pleased Roche recognizes the importance of high-quality longitudinal cancer biobanks for the development of novel NGS-based diagnostics," says Andre Rosenthal, PhD, CEO of Signature, "Joining forces with Roche is very exciting as it will allow us to further develop our NGS assays for sequencing tests using cfDNA, which may advance the development of noninvasive treatment-response monitoring for cancer patients."

Signature products are currently for research use only.

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