BURLINGTON, N.C., and FREMONT, Calif., July 29,
2024 /PRNewswire/ -- Labcorp (NYSE: LH), a global
leader of innovative and comprehensive laboratory services, today
announced an expanded collaboration with Ultima Genomics to utilize
its UG 100TM sequencing solution and ppmSeqTM
technology to explore new whole genome sequencing (WGS) clinical
applications, including molecular residual disease (MRD) in
patients with early-stage solid tumor cancers.
Labcorp recently introduced Labcorp® Plasma Detect™,
the first clinically validated, tumor-informed, WGS-based
circulating tumor DNA (ctDNA) MRD solution for research and
investigational use. Labcorp intends to use Ultima's UG 100
platform and ppmSeq technology, which, combined with Plasma
Detect, have demonstrated in preliminary data the ability to detect
rare variants at extremely low limits, improved sensitivity and
specificity, and more efficient, scalable and cost-effective
workflows.
"By combining Labcorp's leadership, testing capabilities and
expansive network with the accuracy, scalability and
cost-effectiveness of Ultima's technology, we can help transform
oncology testing for pathologists, oncologists and our
biopharmaceutical partners," said Shakti Ramkissoon, M.D., Ph.D.,
MBA, vice president, medical lead for oncology at Labcorp. "Through
this collaboration, Labcorp aims to drive increased efficiency,
scalability and cost-effectiveness while improving access to
affordable genetic testing in emerging areas with significant unmet
need."
"We look forward to expanding our collaboration with Labcorp to
explore the use of our technology in the fast-growing clinical
areas of MRD and clinical WGS," said Gilad Almogy, CEO of Ultima
Genomics. "At Ultima, we developed our unique sequencing
architecture to specifically meet the needs of large-scale
applications. The ability to be accurate at extremely low limits of
detection with our ppmSeq technology and extreme sequencing depth
will be transformational for oncology testing and applications such
as cell-free DNA."
This relationship follows other strategic collaborations Labcorp
has established to improve patient and provider access to and
affordability for innovative technologies.
About Labcorp
Labcorp (NYSE: LH) is a global
leader of innovative and comprehensive laboratory services that
helps doctors, hospitals, pharmaceutical companies, researchers and
patients make clear and confident decisions. We provide insights
and advance science to improve health and improve lives through our
unparalleled diagnostics and drug development laboratory
capabilities. The company's more than 67,000 employees serve
clients in approximately 100 countries, provided support for 84% of
the new drugs and therapeutic products approved in 2023 by the FDA,
and performed more than 600 million tests for patients around the
world. Learn more about us at www.labcorp.com.
About Ultima Genomics
Ultima Genomics is unleashing
the power of genomics at scale. The Company's mission is to
continuously drive the scale of genomic information to enable
unprecedented advances in biology and improvements in human health.
With humanity on the cusp of a biological revolution, there is a
virtually endless need for more genomic information to address
biology's complexity and dynamic change—and a further need to
challenge conventional next-generation sequencing technologies.
Ultima's revolutionary new sequencing architecture drives down the
costs of sequencing to help overcome the tradeoffs that scientists
and clinicians are forced to make between the breadth, depth and
frequency with which they use genomic information. The new
sequencing architecture was designed to scale far beyond
conventional sequencing technologies, lower the cost of genomic
information and catalyze the next phase of genomics in the 21st
century. To learn more, visit www.ultimagenomics.com/.
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SOURCE Labcorp
