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Groundbreaking Study Published in Nature Biotechnology Demonstrates Sensitivity of Single Molecule Test for Detection of Prostate Cancer
Quanterix Technology Shown To Be More Than 1,000 Times More Sensitive Than Standard Methods With Potential For Broad Application To Measure Biomarkers In Cancer, Autoimmune, and Neurological Diseases
CAMBRIDGE, MA – May 23, 2010 –
Quanterix Corporation, the single molecule diagnostics company focused on
developing and commercializing high sensitivity tests, announced the
publication of a breakthrough study of the company’s proprietary
technology that demonstrates an unprecedented sensitivity for measuring
a biomarker for prostate cancer recurrence. The research article,
featured on the cover of the June issue (Volume 28, No. 6) of Nature
Biotechnology, describes how researchers developed a simple blood
test using Quanterix’s Single Molecule Array
(SiMoA™) technology to selectively capture and measure individual
Prostate Specific Antigen (PSA) molecules in prostate cancer patients.
The study showed that SiMoA was 1,700 times more sensitive than standard
hospital tests, potentially allowing for detection of prostate cancer
recurrence years earlier than current tests.
To demonstrate the clinical potential of SiMoA, PSA was measured in serum
from men who had undergone radical prostatectomy for prostate cancer.
For the majority of these patients PSA is initially reported as undetectable
following surgery, but may be present at very low levels that predict the
likelihood of disease recurrence. The Quanterix test was so sensitive that
it was able to measure residual PSA levels in all samples tested. The PSA
levels had been reported to be undetectable in these samples by standard
tests, highlighting the sensitivity and precision of the SiMoA technology.
“This paper demonstrates the extraordinary sensitivity provided by
our SiMoA platform. Its single molecule resolution has allowed us to
measure PSA at extremely low levels, rather than having to wait until the
cancer is more advanced,” said Dr. David C. Duffy, Senior Director
of Platform Research, Quanterix and corresponding author of the study.
“By using Quanterix’s high density arrays, we were able to
hone in on individual molecules rather than looking at the average
response of thousands of molecules. SiMoA provides the resolution for
the proteome that the Hubble telescope did for the cosmos.”
“A diagnostic test with this sensitivity may eliminate unnecessary
secondary treatment while also providing significant peace of mind for
the over 100,000 American men who annually undergo radical prostatectomy
for the treatment of prostate cancer and who will ultimately remain
disease-free,” said Dr. Herbert Lepor, a prostate cancer expert
and Chairman of the Department of Urology at the New York University
School of Medicine. “New York University Langone Medical Center
is looking forward to investigating the Quanterix test to determine its
potential for identifying patients who require more or less vigilant
follow-up after surgery and, identifying earlier those men who require
secondary treatment, thereby optimizing postoperative management.”
“The implications of this technology are far reaching,” noted
David Walt, Ph.D., scientific founder of both Quanterix and Illumina
(NASDAQ: ILMN). “In analytical chemistry, single molecule counting
is the ultimate goal for sensitivity. This report shows the applicability
of SiMoA in measuring an important cancer marker and opens the door for
its application in many other areas including neurological, cardiovascular
and autoimmune diseases.”
“Quanterix has demonstrated conclusively that SiMoA can be applied
to measuring any protein of interest with unprecedented sensitivity,”
said Dr. David Okrongly, President and CEO of Quanterix. “Our goal
is to utilize these data and other studies to launch our first diagnostic
tests through the Quanterix Clinical Laboratory by 2011 and continue to
advance the technology towards implementation across the full spectrum
of immunodiagnostics.”
About Quanterix
Quanterix Corporation is a development stage diagnostics company utilizing
proprietary Single Molecule Array (SiMoA™)
technology for the quantification of clinically important proteins.
SiMoA is the most sensitive immunoassay technology available and will
bring an unprecedented level of insight into disease detection, diagnosis
and surveillance using simple blood-based tests. The company is initially
focused on biomarkers for prostate cancer recurrence monitoring and central
nervous system disorders, such as Alzheimer's disease. The company will
commercialize its high value tests through the Quanterix Clinical
Laboratory, serving both clinicians for patient testing and pharmaceutical
companies to support clinical trials. Founded in 2007, the privately held
Cambridge, Massachusetts based company is backed by leading life science
investors including ARCH Venture Partners, Bain Capital Ventures, and
Flagship Ventures. For additional information, please visit
www.quanterix.com.
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