Ginkgo Bioworks announces acquisitions

Ginkgo Bioworks, which has a platform for cell programming and biosecurity, recently announced the acquisition of Patch Biosciences, Proof Diagnostics, and key assets of Reverie Labs.

Patch Biosciences has built an artificial intelligence (AI) platform for sequence design that enables more effective, specific, and durable genetic medicines. The acquisition is intended to strengthen Ginkgo’s gene therapy, cell therapy, and RNA therapeutics services. Ginkgo will incorporate Patch’s machine learning models and downstream assays into its existing platform, making new capabilities in synthetic promoter and untranslated region engineering available to partners.

Proof Diagnostics is a life sciences tools, diagnostics, and computational discovery company that is developing genome engineering tools for both therapeutics and diagnostics applications. The company has built a portable system for the detection of infectious and other diseases. Proof was founded to develop a low-cost, rapid, easy-to-use, and sensitive diagnostic system for SARS-CoV-2, Flu A/B, respiratory syncytial virus, and other diseases. Proof’s libraries of programmable OMEGA RNA, non-Cas enzymes, and associated intellectual property are the key focus of Ginkgo's acquisition.

Reverie Labs built and used AI and machine learning (ML) tools to accelerate drug discovery. Ginkgo has acquired Reverie’s infrastructure and software for training large-scale AI foundation models. The acquisition is intended to strengthen Ginkgo’s AI/ML-driven discovery services offerings and to accelerate Ginkgo's work to build next-generation biological foundation models.

FREENOME RAISES FUNDS FOR EARLY CANCER DETECTION PLATFORM

The biotechnology company Freenome recently announced that it received $254 million from new and existing investors to advance the pipeline of single-cancer and tailored multicancer early detection tests built on its multiomics platform.

The platform uses computational biology, machine learning, and other technologies to develop screening tools to detect cancer in its earliest, most treatable stages. The platform, augmented with biological insights derived from the multiomics platform, is being evaluated for its ability to detect minimal residual disease noninvasively.

Freenome said that Roche Diagnostics led the financing, joined by several other investors.

Freenome is also conducting additional studies to evaluate a blood-based screening test among adults at average risk for colorectal cancer, to validate a lung screening test in certain current and former smokers, and to compare blood samples from patients with and without cancer.

HC1 LAUNCHES WORKFORCE OPTIMIZATION

hc1 Insights recently announced the launch of hc1 Workforce Optimization, a new solution that uses trained artificial intelligence models to project future volume trends and provide actionable recommendations for optimizing laboratory staffing levels.

In partnership with the American Oncology Network (AON), a network of community-based oncology practices, the new solution was developed and tested throughout 2023. Launched in 2018, the AON network represents 106 physicians and 86 nurse practitioners and physician assistants practicing across 18 U.S. states.

The U.S. federal government has projected a 22% increase in demand for medical and clinical laboratory technologists and technicians by 2025. Coupled with reported understaffing in most labs, this situation places a continuing burden on lab professionals to do more with less. By predicting demand for lab services department-by-department across an organization, hc1 Workforce Optimization enables proactive identification of potential shortages or overages, staffing assignment adjustments, and monitoring the impact of staffing changes over time, hc1 officials said.

AON officials stated that the solution can streamline staffing models and make suggestions using machine learning predictive analytics.

BIOMÉRIEUX AND JMI LABS PARTNER AGAINST ANTIMICROBIAL RESISTANCE

bioMérieux and JMI Laboratories have announced a 6-year partnership to evaluate the performance and potential of rapid and innovative microbiology diagnostics as tools against antimicrobial resistance (AMR).

JMI specializes in the advancement of antimicrobial therapies, surveillance, and post-market observations and insights in the antimicrobial susceptibility testing (AST) field. In 1997, JMI established the Sentry Antimicrobial Surveillance Program. To help monitor the prevalence of AMR, Sentry has collected 40,000 clinical isolates of bacteria and fungi annually from a network of more than 150 medical centers worldwide.

bioMérieux is recognized globally for its advancements in rapid and actionable diagnostics, such as faster pathogen identification and AST to support antimicrobial stewardship efforts.

Through this partnership with JMI, bioMérieux will be able to continually assess antimicrobial susceptibility testing results and validate against evolving global antimicrobial susceptibility data collected through the JMI-led Sentry program, bioMérieux said.

DIACARTA AND ONCOASSURE COLLABORATE ON PROSTATE CANCER TEST

DiaCarta recently announced a strategic collaboration with OncoAssure to commercialize OncoAssure’s prostate cancer test for patients with a lower risk of prostate cancer recurrence.

The prognostic test is a 6-gene expression assay that assesses the risk of aggressive disease post-diagnosis and the risk of biochemical recurrence over a 5-year period post-surgery.

The collaboration aims to leverage DiaCarta’s expertise in customizable clinical diagnostic services to facilitate the completion of the laboratory developed test validation for the OncoAssure Prostate test. The collaboration also includes an application to the Centers for Medicare & Medicaid Services for coding, billing, and reimbursement, the companies said.

AGILENT ANNOUNCES AND INCYTE TO DEVELOP ADVANCED COMPANION DIAGNOSTICS

Agilent Technologies recently announced an agreement with Incyte to develop companion diagnostics (CDx) to support development and commercialization of Incyte’s hematology and oncology portfolio.

The agreement enables Agilent to continue to expand its companion diagnostics portfolio with novel biomarkers. The agreement helps Incyte leverage Agilent’s expertise in in vitro diagnostics development, global regulatory approvals, and commercialization to support clinical trials and potential registration and commercialization of CDx in the U.S. and Europe.

Agilent officials said the deal paves the way for strategic transformation of the treatment paradigm for a broad spectrum of cancers. By working together, Agilent and Incyte hope to expedite the development of innovative precision products that will potentially allow for enhanced patient health outcomes, they added.