Sequenom Acquisition of CMM Will Aid Test Commercialization

Sequenom (San Diego, CA, USA) plans to buy the Center for Molecular Medicine (CMM; Grand Rapids, MI, USA) a Clinical Laboratory Improvement Act (CLIA)-certified diagnostics lab, in an agreement worth roughly US$4 million.

CMM is a joint venture that was created March 2008 between Spectrum Health, a non-profit health system, and the Van Andel Research Institute (Grand Rapids, MI, USA), an independent research institute. It includes Spectrum Health's clinical resources and the Van Andel Research Institute's genomics, proteomics, and bioinformatics expertise. CMM currently provides DNA and RNA extraction, DNA microarrays, multiplex detection, gene expression profiling, and other diagnostic services.

Under the terms of the agreement, Spectrum Health will continue to coordinate third-party payer agreements, will provide the information technology (IT) interface between CMM and Spectrum Health, and will provide additional state licensor certifications and operations support. Sequenom will also collaborate with Van Andel on technology development, women's health, and oncology.

"This acquisition positions us well to successfully launch our SEQureDx Trisomy 21 Down syndrome test through a CLIA-certified lab on schedule during the first half of 2009,” Sequenom CEO Harry Stylii said in a statement.

Sequenom is a provider of genetic-analysis and molecular diagnostic solutions. The company announced additional, positive results from screening studies using its noninvasive circulating cell-free fetal (ccff) nucleic acid SEQureDx technology, which enables the detection of fetal aneuploidy, including Down syndrome, from maternal blood. Sequenom's test demonstrated complete concordance with clinical results (no false-positives and no false-negatives) in both first and second trimester samples (more than 400 prospective samples to date).

Related Links:
Sequenom
Center for Molecular Medicine