On April 14, 2016 NanoString Technologies, Inc. (NASDAQ:NSTG), a provider of life science tools for translational research and molecular diagnostic products,reported reported the introduction of nCounter Vantage, a portfolio of assays that power 3D Biology experiments in cancer research, including immuno-oncology (Press release, NanoString Technologies, APR 14, 2016, View Source [SID:1234510827]). The nCounter Vantage portfolio provides a deeper view of cancer and immune biology by enabling multiplexed, digital analysis of DNA, RNA and protein simultaneously in a single experiment. Designed for flexibility, nCounter Vantage products can be mixed and matched, creating many new ways for cancer researchers to apply 3D Biology technology.
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"The nCounter Vantage portfolio will enable researchers to extract much more information from each patient sample to better understand a particular tumor at the genomic and proteomic level as well as its interaction with the immune system," said Dr. Jerome Galon, Research Director of INSERM. "This may lead to the identification of insightful new biomarkers and signatures that could become diagnostics with important clinical utility."
NanoString plans to unveil multiple new nCounter Vantage products at the American Association for Cancer Research (AACR) (Free AACR Whitepaper) Annual Meeting, to be held in New Orleans, from April 16 through April 20, 2016. These include:
For RNA, two new panels for the detection of fusion genes in lung cancer and leukemia samples
For proteins, two new panels covering solid tumor biology and immune-cell signaling
For DNA, the first of three new panels for the detection of single nucleotide variations
The company will also showcase a new version of its nSolver data analysis software, which will support 3D Biology experiments with new data merging capabilities for combining and comparing multiple panels, analyte types, and custom CodeSets in a single view.
"Because of the complexity of the immune response and tumor biology, it is likely that the next generation of biomarkers in immuno-oncology will need to integrate measurements of DNA, RNA, and protein," said Dr. Alessandra Cesano, Chief Medical Officer of NanoString Technologies. "Using Vantage assays, together with an nCounter instrument, researchers can achieve these multi-analyte measurements simultaneously on a single sample. We believe that this novel capability will pave the way for development of an exciting and more informative new category of clinical diagnostics."
New nCounter Vantage Products Featured at AACR (Free AACR Whitepaper)
The nCounter Vantage Lung Gene Fusion Panel and nCounter Vantage Leukemia Gene Fusion Panel products have been developed for Research Use Only applications, enable highly multiplexed analysis of key disease-driving gene fusions in RNA transcripts, and are commercially available now. The Lung Gene Fusion Panel includes 63 probes targeting fusions involving the ALK, ROS, RET, and NTRK1 genes. The Leukemia Gene Fusion Panel includes 42 probes targeting gene fusions and other key biomarkers expressed in ALL, AML, and CML.
Two new protein panels are initially being made available under product evaluation programs, and are expected to be commercially launched by the end of this year for use separately or in combination with other Vantage RNA and DNA panels. The first new protein panel will analyze 30 key intracellular proteins involved in immuno-oncology, and will form the nCounter Vantage RNA:Protein Immune Cell Signaling Panel when used in combination with the 770 RNA measurements included in the PanCancer Immune Profiling Panel. The second new protein panel is focused on key cancer pathways, and will form the nCounter Vantage RNA:Protein Solid Tumor Pathways Panel when used in combination with the 770 RNA measurements included in the PanCancer Pathways Panel.
In addition, the first of three new nCounter Vantage DNA panels for the detection of single nucleotide variations will be featured at the AACR (Free AACR Whitepaper) meeting. The nCounter Vantage DNA Solid Tumor Panel is designed for highly multiplexed profiling of key cancer driver mutations as well as insertions and deletions (INDELs) from as little as 5 ng of DNA. Several customers are currently involved in a product evaluation program, which will be expanded prior to commercial launch of the panel expected later this year.
At the 2016 AACR (Free AACR Whitepaper) Annual Meeting in New Orleans, Louisiana, NanoString will showcase nCounter Vantage capabilities at booth #2412.