Agilent, Integrated Diagnostics partner to improve protein-based LC/MS assays

Agilent Technologies Inc. (NYSE: A) and Integrated Diagnostics today announced a strategic partnership to develop assays that detect major human diseases at very early stages to improve treatment outcomes.

“Agilent and Integrated Diagnostics share the vision of harnessing the power of an integrative systems biology approach to solving some of mankind's most vexing health challenges”

Integrated Diagnostics, an emerging leader in molecular diagnostics, is creating large-scale, blood-based molecular diagnostics that leverage advances in proteomics and genomics to detect diseases such as lung cancer and Alzheimer's at their earliest stages. Agilent manufactures a wide range of analytical instrumentation, including liquid chromatography, mass spectrometry and automation systems. Officials of both organizations see an opportunity to rapidly turn medical breakthroughs into diagnostic assays by combining efforts to focus on protein and peptide biomarkers of disease.

"Agilent provides an innovative and forward-looking platform and expertise to enable the development and deployment of next-generation multiplexed proteomic assays," said Paul Kearney, Ph.D., president and chief scientific officer, Integrated Diagnostics. "Integrated Diagnostics will bring expertise in assay development, technology strategy, study design, clinical development, commercialization and systems informatics to leverage the Agilent technology solution. Together, we intend to realize the potential of clinical proteomics today as well as establish the technological platform and strategy for the field. Our partnership with Agilent will allow us to realize the advantages of using a single technology platform from discovery and verification through to commercialization."

"Agilent and Integrated Diagnostics share the vision of harnessing the power of an integrative systems biology approach to solving some of mankind's most vexing health challenges," said Gustavo Salem, vice president and general manager of the Biological Systems Division at Agilent. "It's very exciting to be at the forefront of helping technology migrate from the research lab to the clinic, in this case developing next-generation workflows to improve protein-based LC/MS assays."

As part of the partnership, Integrated Diagnostics purchased two Agilent 1290 Infinity UHPLC systems, two 6490 iFunnel triple quadrupole mass spectrometry systems and two 1260 LCs with ultraviolet detectors for the project.

The partnership will develop high-throughput automated workflows to include sample preparation and LC MS/MS analysis. Participants expect accelerated biomarker discovery to be fueled by novel sample-prep technology, fast liquid chromatography and ultra-sensitive ion funnel triple quadrupole mass spectrometry.

The technology opens the possibility of screening for several hundred biomarkers in a single assay, in a very high-throughput and quantitative fashion, according to Agilent.