Abstract:
"Ciphergen has pioneered the field of Clinical Proteomics through our ProteinChip System-based biomarker discovery capabilities," commented William Rich, president and CEO. "We believe that this new IDM platform, when integrated with our proven EDM platform, combines protein expression and interaction discovery on a single ProteinChip platform and enables a breakthrough in 'Functional Proteomics.'
Full Text:
Copyright 2003, Drug Week via NewsRx.com & NewsRx.net
2003 JUL 4 - (NewsRx.com & NewsRx.net) -- Ciphergen Biosystems, Inc., (CIPH) announced the launch of its new Interaction Discovery Mapping (IDM) platform based on the SELDI ProteinChip Biomarker System and that the company's technology is being used in SARS studies.
The IDM platform represents a significant development in clinical proteomics application tools, enabling rapid protein interaction studies and complementing Ciphergen's proven Expression Difference Mapping (EDM) capability for biomarker discovery. The IDM platform enables:
1) Rapid discovery of new protein interaction-related biomarkers;
2) Elucidation of disease associated biological pathways and function, as well as novel therapeutic strategies; and
3) Development of rapid, quantitative multi-marker assays for disease diagnosis, prognosis, and treatment monitoring with improved clinical sensitivity and specificity.
"Ciphergen has pioneered the field of Clinical Proteomics through our ProteinChip System-based biomarker discovery capabilities," commented William Rich, president and CEO. "We believe that this new IDM platform, when integrated with our proven EDM platform, combines protein expression and interaction discovery on a single ProteinChip platform and enables a breakthrough in 'Functional Proteomics.' Reducing Functional Proteomics to practice in this way provides a better understanding of disease pathways and takes Clinical Proteomics to the next level."
The EDM/IDM integrated strategy for the discovery of disease- associated biomarkers is at the heart of Clinical Proteomics
"The use of high capacity affinity beads that are 'surface chemistry matched' with ProteinChip Arrays is a powerful and versatile combination. Their use for IDM applications alone or with EDM/IDM strategies enable the successful use of SELDI ProteinChip technology in applications where the most powerful tools for protein biomarker discovery, validation, purification/ID and assay development are required," stated Kate Gilbert, consumables product manager.
The new IDM platform is accompanied by a detailed 100 page IDM Guide containing robust protocols for a wide range of applications such as antibody-antigen interactions, cytokine, and A-beta assays, kinase assays, capture of biotinylated molecules and disease biomarker interaction discovery. These IDM protocols and the EDM/ IDM strategy are routinely used by scientists at Ciphergen's Biomarker Discovery Center facilities in California, Pennsylvania, Denmark, and Japan.
Ciphergen also announced that its ProteinChip Technology is being employed by multiple groups, including Health Canada's National Microbiology Lab, Beijing Clinical SARS Testing Center, and the Genomic Institute of Singapore, in the hunt for novel protein biomarkers associated with Severe Acute Respiratory Syndrome (SARS).
Ciphergen's field scientists and Biomarker Discovery Center personnel are providing technical support for these projects, as appropriate. In general, these groups are employing Ciphergen's patented Expression Difference Mapping protocols on nasopharyngeal (throat swabs), serum, and other samples using the ProteinChip System with an initial goal of discovering protein biomarkers that could be used as rapid diagnostic tests.
A number of potential biomarkers have already been discovered in SARS patient samples. These biomarkers are being identified and will be further evaluated for their utility in developing accurate diagnostic tests for SARS. If successful, therapeutic and/or vaccine strategies based on insights provided from these biomarkers may be pursued as well.
Rich said, "We have had considerable success in the past in applying our technology to various clinical questions in the infectious disease area, such as our work on HIV with the Aaron Diamond AIDS Research Center, and ProteinChip technology is now being actively employed to SARS research as well."
This article was prepared by Drug Week editors from staff and other reports.
