QIAGEN N.V., a leader in molecular diagnostics and pharmaceutical research, recently revealed a new agreement with North Carolina based LabCorp® to extend its Clinical Insights (QCI) license with its Human Gene Mutation Database (HGMD).

As per reports, this agreement would build on both the company’s existing seven-year relationship that focuses on introducing, supporting and developing new diagnostic tests. LabCorp would circulate HGMD across its laboratories to improve the interpretation and identification of genetic variants within inherited disorders.

Speaking on the move, Chief Scientific Officer, LabCorp Diagnostics, Marcia Eisenberg, Ph.D., stated that next-gen sequencing has flowered into a powerful tool that identifies genetic variants which play a significant role in inherited diseases. This would facilitate a flexible technology platform that would let the company scale from large-scale to highly targeted test panels which could be utilized for the studies of new diagnostics and therapies as well as clinical diagnostics.

Eisenberg added that the accessibility to an up-to-date, comprehensive catalog of all the known mutations would expand its expertise in classification of existing variants. This would also permit LabCorp to hand out the best possible test interpretation to researchers and physicians.

Head of Digital Insights Business Area and Senior Vice President, QIAGEN, Jonathan Sheldon, Ph.D., hereditary and rare diseases tend to complicate diagnostic odyssey for families, healthcare systems and patients, the company is working on this challenge. Additionally, giving access to HGMD, a QCI component, would benefit both patients and labs that are expecting answers for appropriate treatments and hereditary diseases.

Sheldon said that the company has an age-old bond with LabCorp and is pleased to further it. The expansion supports the significance of QIAGEN’s bioinformatics solutions in the analysis of germline diseases.

Prior to this news, QIAGEN had made headlines when it had shared the completion of various agreements that would increase its assets related to immuno-oncology for upcoming commercialization of novel companion diagnostics.

 Sources cite that these agreements contain a new partnership deal with Repertoire Genesis Inc., a Japanese firm. It is said that the Japanese company would deliver access to modern solutions for the advancement of T-cell/B-cell receptor repertoire assays to be used in NGS systems.

Source Credit: https://corporate.qiagen.com/newsroom/press-releases/2019/20191120_labcorp_hgmd_relationship