Biocartis collaborates with Philips and Wellcome Trust

Biocartis, Philips and Wellcome Trust will develop a novel workflow for extraction and amplification & detection of tumor DNA on Biocartis diagnostic platforms. Biocartis retains its full IP rights, with access to IP created during this scope of this collaboration.

Cancer is caused by the accumulation of genetic damage (mutations) in cells within a particular organ. These mutations are only found in the cancerous cells, and therefore could be used to monitor the tumour load during treatment, and rapidly evaluate treatment response. The new test will allow a personalised treatment of tumours.

Patrick van den Bogaard, Director of Life Science Research at Biocartis SA comments: “The system will use disposable, microfluidic cartridges with digitally encoded micro particles for the rapid and sensitive detection of multiple DNA samples. The test aims to be highly specific and sensitive, being able to isolate and detect just a few molecules of tumour DNA per ml of blood. To implement such tests in a real-world healthcare system requires development of fully automated, high multiplexing diagnostic instruments and technology which is the core focus of Biocartis.”

Biocartis develops assays which have high clinical utility and compelling health economic value. Oncology is the primary focus of Biocartis as this is one of the greatest unmet needs for personalized medicine. Biocartis’ broad platform capabilities are well suited to address the growing need for individualized diagnosis and treatment of cancer patients.

Biocartis follows a unique alliance model which leverages the combined resources of its current alliance partners (bioMérieux and Janssen Diagnostics) and future alliance members to jointly and efficiently install and service a global base of instruments and develop a broad menu of diagnostic tests.

Biocartis founded in 2007 is a rapidly growing company; to date Biocartis staff includes over 120 people. The company raised in total EUR 125 million in equity.