Agilent Technologies Licenses Kreatech Technology, Enabling First CGH Microarrays Optimized for FFPE Samples

Agilent Technologies Inc. (NYSE: A) and Kreatech Biotechnology B.V. announced today that Agilent has licensed novel labeling technology from Kreatech, which will optimize Agilent’s array-based comparative genomic hybridization (aCGH) platform for DNA from formalin-fixed paraffin-embedded (FFPE) tissue samples.

This agreement will yield products that meet a major need of clinical researchers. There are an estimated 400 million FFPE-preserved samples in tissue banks worldwide, and the DNA in these samples has been considered too degraded to use in microarray analysis techniques such as aCGH, a powerful method for studying DNA copy number variation in tissue samples.

“This new capability holds tremendous promise for cancer researchers,” said Jay Kaufman, Agilent marketing director, Genomics. “Now researchers can enjoy reproducible results on an oligo microarray platform, looking at old preserved and often degraded samples which are annotated with clinical histories. In many cases, this DNA is only available in a formalin-fixed paraffin-embedded form so the products and methods Agilent is now offering will considerably reduce previous limitations.”

“We believe that we’re advancing cancer research through this new protocol, by enabling the reliable labeling of challenging DNA samples,” said Rik van Heijningen, vice president Commercial Operations at Kreatech. “We are extremely pleased to offer our technology through Agilent, the leading company in CGH microarrays.”

The method is based on Kreatech’s Universal Linkage System (ULS) technology, a non-enzymatic direct labeling methodology that has been optimized for Agilent oligo CGH microarrays. Enzymatic labeling can introduce bias while further reducing DNA fragment size. This new labeling technology also features a simple, single-tube protocol, enabling a reduced cost per experiment.

For more information about the new reagents for use with Agilent oligo CGH microarrays, or the entire Agilent portfolio of microarrays, reagents, instruments and software, please visit www.opengenomics.com. Updated information pertaining to these new products will be available soon.