Life Technologies and VelaDx to Develop IVD Tests

VelaDx (The Kendall Science Park II, Singapore) signed an agreement with Life Technologies (Carlsbad, CA, USA) to develop and market in vitro diagnostic (IVD) tests on the Ion personal genome machine (PGM) platform. VelaDx will seek approvals from global regulatory authorities for clinical diagnostic tests in oncology and infectious disease.

The Ion PGM System is fast, simple, and flexible, and is complementary to Vela's Sentosa workflow and its menu of quantitative polymerase chain reaction (qPCR) assay kits. Both Ion's PGM and Vela's Sentosa systems can operate on a menu of single tests or multiple panels that can easily be implemented in most laboratories. Data communication with laboratory information systems between the Ion PGM and Sentosa systems will maintain the accuracy of data and improve the efficiency of the laboratory workflow.

The semiconductor sequencing will increase and improve diagnostic tests for personalized medicine. Ion Torrent (Guilford, CA, USA) president and COO, Gregg Fergus explained, "The Ion PGM sequencer uses a novel sequencing technology that directly translates the language of chemistry into the binary language of computers on a semiconductor chip. This new approach has democratized sequencing, making it far more accessible than ever before. The system can perform a sequencing run in just 90 minutes and automated sample prep makes it easy for a lab technician of any experience level to operate. The cost of the Ion PGM system is just a fraction of other systems and accuracy is at a Q30 quality level, both of which are helping to rapidly drive adoption. More than 1,000 units were sold in the system's first 18 months on the market. Life Technologies plans to seek clearance for the Ion PGM System from the FDA as well as approval from other global regulatory agencies."

Target markets addressed by VelaDx are attractive and growing quickly. A recent report by Piper Jaffray, an investment bank and asset management firm, estimated the current infectious disease market to be USD 2 billion annually and growing by more than 8%. United Health Group, a health care company, predicted that the genetic testing market will grow to USD 25 billion by 2021.

Related Links:
VelaDx
Life Technologies
Ion Torrent