Leukocare Licenses Biomarker Cell-Free DNA to Trillium Diagnostics

Leukocare AG (Munich, Germany) and Trillium Diagnostics, LLC (Brewer, Maine, USA) have formed a strategic alliance for the development and marketing of Leukocare’s method for the detection of inflammatory activity using the novel biomarker circulating cell-free DNA (cf-DNA).

Trillium was granted an exclusive, royalty-bearing license of Leukocare's patent and know-how for the method of measuring the quantity of cf-DNA to develop a commercial IVD assay kit for the worldwide market. Trillium will use the technology to develop an assay for the diagnosis of sepsis. The assay is expected to be approved and marketable in about 2 years’ time.

Neutrophil-derived DNA is the major component of cf-DNA, which has recently been recognized as an important predictive biomarker in severely ill patients with acute or chronic inflammatory disorders. Bruce Davis, MD, CEO and president of Trillium Diagnostics said, “cf-DNA is an important addition to our patented infection/sepsis diagnostic assays of neutrophil CD64 expression (Leuko64 assay) and soluble CD163 (Macro163 assay). We hope these three assays used in parallel will provide unparalleled sensitivity and specificity in diagnosis.”

Dr. Davis also remarked, "A prognostic assay for sepsis will represent a tremendous improvement in intensive care medicine. It clearly would fulfill an unmet medical need to help identify sepsis patients at early stage and to initiate rapid treatment actions."

Related Links:
Leukocare AG
Trillium Diagnostics, LLC