EKF Diagnostics, worldwide manufacturer of point-of-care diagnostic tools, organ injury biomarkers, and assays has announced the launch of a new division to focus on molecular and companion diagnostics. EKF Molecular Diagnostics will develop technologies for cancer gene detection through its acquisition of UK-based 360 Genomics. EKF Molecular has been set up to offer innovative products with the potential to change current DNA extraction and detection practices, allowing EKF to address the fast-growing companion diagnostics market.
EKF Molecular’s lead product, PointMan, is a real-time PCR technology that, company representatives say, provides highly sensitive detection for cancer mutations. PointMan amplifies the target sequence of interest while suppressing amplification of the wild type. The resulting sample is effectively enriched for the mutation, thereby having the potential to offer excellent sensitivity in a wide variety of sample types. EKF Molecular expects to follow the spring launch of PointMan with several additional product launches during the second half of the year. Xtract, the second product in EKF’s launch range, offers customers in the pharmaceutical, academic, and diagnostic sectors an automatable platform for DNA extraction technology.
Julian Baines, Chief Executive Officer of EKF, says, “Companion diagnostics is a situation where everyone wins: patients get better diagnosis, which leads to better treatments and survival rates; doctors see increased patient safety and can make better-informed decisions about treatments; healthcare providers and insurance companies will see better patient outcomes through reduced costs; and pharmaceutical companies will be able to gain easier regulatory approval and a quicker time to market for their drugs.” Learn more about EKF’s acquisition of 360 Genomics and EKF’s new molecular diagnostics division, and the PointMan technology.
