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SAGA Diagnostics enters into assay development agreement with AstraZeneca

AstraZeneca

Under the new agreement, unique SAGAsafe dPCR assays will be developed for the analysis of tissue samples and liquid biopsies

2 Nov 2021
Blake Forman
Content Creator

Industry news

SAGA Diagnostics AB, a cancer liquid biopsy and genomic testing company focused on precision oncology and non-invasive ultrasensitive monitoring of cancer patients has entered into an assay development agreement with the global, science-led biopharmaceutical company AstraZeneca.

SAGA Diagnostics will during this agreement develop unique SAGAsafe® dPCR assays towards undisclosed methylated targets for analyses of tissue samples and liquid biopsies.

“We have chosen to partner with SAGA because of the ultrasensitive performance of the SAGAsafe® technology and the possibility to custom tailor highly complex dPCR assays to meet our desired analytical standards. We are excited about exploring this new area together with SAGA.” – James Hadfield, Director Epigenomics, Oncology Translational Medicine, Oncology R&D, AstraZeneca

SAGAsafe® is a patented improvement of digital PCR that enables approximately 100-fold increased sensitivity compared to competitor methods and can be used to quantify sequence variants in tissue samples as well as liquid biopsies such as blood plasma with unprecedented performance.

“We are honored that Dr. Hadfield and his team have selected SAGA and the SAGAsafe® platform to develop ultrasensitive dPCR methylation assays for AstraZeneca’s clinical research study and are pleased to be working together again.” – Lao Saal, co-founder and COO of SAGA Diagnostics

SAGAsafe® is part of a portfolio of ultrasensitive technologies, which also includes SAGAsign® for personalized monitoring of cancer burden and minimal residual disease (MRD) using chromosomal rearrangements, as well as novel technologies in development. SAGA offers both off-the-shelf analysis services and kits as well as customizable solutions to fit customers’ needs. SAGA’s molecular tools are being used in clinical trials and hospitals for detecting actionable mutations, monitoring treatment response, measuring minimal residual disease, and identifying resistance mechanisms to help direct therapy.

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Cell / Tissue CultureCell culture or tissue culture is used to study the biology of cells or tissues and to isolate cellular products in an environment which can be manipulated and well defined. Accurately control your culture environment with bioreactors or culture incubators, bind your cells to a surface or together with an extracellular matrix. Distinguish cell types with differential media or proliferate cells with certain characteristics using selective media. Enrich your media with supplements such as growth factors, sera and vitamins. Find the best cell and tissue culture products, kits and equipment in our peer-reviewed product directory: compare products, check customer reviews and receive pricing direct from manufacturers.Cell-Based AssaysCell-based assays are used to monitor the presence, quantity and activities of a desired cellular analyte including drug molecules or biomarkers. This can reveal information on cell health (apoptosis, cytotoxicity, viability and proliferation assays), cell metabolism, cell migration and cell signaling mechanisms. Find the best cell-based assay products, kits and equipment with our peer reviewed product directory: compare products, check customer reviews and receiving pricing direct from manufacturers.Cancer DiagnosticsThere are a wide variety of diagnostic tests for cancer available, and this range continues to expand as our knowledge of cancer improves. Current diagnostic methods include biopsy, imaging and blood tests for known biomarkers. New methods in research development include liquid biopsies and cancer breathalyzers.Assay DevelopmentThe process of proving an assay to be sensitive with respect to the target is known as assay development. The assay should be able to characterize novel compounds and measure the potency of these compounds against a validated biological target.CollaborationLiquid BiopsiesLiquid biopsies are non-invasive tests used to detect cancer and other diseases by analyzing blood or other bodily fluids. This technique is gaining popularity for early detection, monitoring treatment response, and detecting minimal residual disease. Explore liquid biopsy solutions in our peer-reviewed product directory; compare products, check reviews, and get pricing directly from manufacturers.

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SAGA Diagnostics enters into assay development agreement with AstraZeneca