Description

Cardiff, UK – 13 November 2013 – EKF Diagnostics, the global diagnostics business, announces that EKF Molecular Diagnostics will launch four new PointMan™ DNA enrichment kits at the Association for Molecular Pathology Annual Meeting (AMP 2013), 14-16th November, Phoenix, AZ. The new kits for the Research Use Only market, with planned diagnostic registration in Europe in 2014, offer highly specific and ultra-sensitive enrichment of multiple mutations in EGFR, NRAS, KRAS and JAK2 genes associated with a variety of cancers.

As a real-time PCR technology, PointMan provides reliable and extremely sensitive detection of cancer mutations by amplifying the target sequence of interest in a background of wild-type genes. Using this technology, the enrichment kits are an ideal research tool for understanding biomarker and drug response.

Requiring minimal sample and offering fast, efficient and cost effective enrichment of mutant gene sequences, EKF’s new cancer biomarker kits are listed below:

PointMan™ KRAS codons 12/13/61 DNA Enrichment Kit
The KRAS gene has proven utility in the treatment of colorectal cancer and the addition of codon 61 may confirm broader genetic variation within the KRAS gene.
PointMan™ EGFR DNA Enrichment Kit
The newly extended kit includes the addition of the sensitising mutations in exons 19 and 21 which have proven utility for EGFR targeted therapies in non-small cell lung cancer.
PointMan™ NRAS DNA Enrichment Kit
Mutations in the NRAS gene are found in approximately 13–25% of all malignant melanomas, occurring frequently in codons 12, 13, and 61.
PointMan™ JAK2 DNA Enrichment Kit
Mutations in the JAK2 gene have been implicated in polycythemia vera, essential thrombocythemia, and myelofibrosis as well as other myeloproliferative disorders.

The new launches follow on from the introduction of the first three PointMan™ DNA enrichment products - BRAF, KRAS, EGFR T790M DNA enrichment kits - in May 2013. The extension of EKF Molecular Diagnostic’s portfolio of DNA enrichment kits further enhances the company’s ability to change current DNA extraction and detection practices and address the fast growing companion diagnostics market.

Andrew Webb, CEO of EKF Molecular Diagnostics, commented, “I’m very pleased to announce the launch of our latest research kits, adding to our growing portfolio of kits for use in finding companion diagnostics for cancer treatments. We look forward to introducing further research kits in 2014 that challenge the lack of sensitivity in current methodologies.”

EKF Molecular is also pleased to announce the appointment of Chris Booth as Product Specialist. Joining from Qiagen where he worked in the Technology Transfer team, Chris has also previously worked as a Senior Scientist in Product Development at DxS and a Scientific Officer at Cancer Research UK within the cancer mutation detection service. Chris will be training and supporting EKF Molecular’s customers in the use of the company’s new cancer gene detection products and their application.