Almac’s unique gene expression report enables cancer researchers to discover exciting new insights clara^T report now includes all ten Hallmarks of Cancer to aid novel Biomarker Discovery

Craigavon, N.I., 26 September 2019 – Almac Diagnostic Services, a member of the Almac Group, will launch the complete version of clara^T at the ESMO Congress in Barcelona on 27th September. The Almac clara^T Total mRNA Report content has expanded considerably from the initial version launched the previous year at the ESMO Congress. The complete version now includes 92 gene expression signatures, 100 single gene drug targets and over 7,000 additional biology linked genes, categorised by all 10 Hallmarks of Cancer.

The innovative clara^T Total mRNA Report benefits both academic and biopharma biomarker discovery and translational researchers by saving them valuable time in analysing gene expression data and helping to maximise the understanding of their dataset. clara^T analyses multiple published gene expression signatures that represent the Hallmarks of Cancer simultaneously, and presents the results in a comprehensive, easy-to-interpret format. Researchers are provided with an interactive report that facilitates easy visualisation of novel molecular subgroups within the sample cohort and the key discriminating biologies within an individual tumour sample.

By allowing multiple biologies to be evaluated in parallel, as opposed to the traditional method of focusing on one biology alone, the clara^T Total mRNA Report supports the identification of novel insights, highlighting consensus signatures within, and between, the Hallmarks of Cancer. This analysis allows researchers to confirm known findings in the field, but more importantly helps to identify new and unique observations such as novel pathways and biologies predicting response to therapeutic targets that may not yet be proven to do so.

One such researcher who has benefited from using Almac’s solution is Priyanka Sharma MD, Professor of Medicine at The University of Kansas Medical Centre & Vice Chair of the Breast Committee at South Western Oncology Group (SWOG). Dr Sharma stated: “RNA sequencing is a valuable tool for interpreting the gene expression shifts that occur in tumors as a result of cancer therapy. We recently used Almac’s innovative gene expression analysis tool, clara^T, to simultaneously assess multiple biologies in a breast cancer clinical trial cohort. clara^T analysis revealed the specific Hallmarks of Cancer and novel expression signatures that are directly associated with treatment response in this trial involving a drug targeting the PI3K pathway. We anticipate that these exciting new findings may guide future clinical trial design and patient selection criteria.”

RNA-Sequencing (RNA-Seq) data is complex and difficult to interpret, often requiring extensive bioinformatic capabilities. Almac has developed an optimised RNA-Seq platform alongside proprietary bioinformatics pipelines and software solutions to report and visualise this myriad of data in an intelligently simplified manner.

Professor Richard Kennedy, Global VP of Biomarker Discovery, Almac Diagnostic Services stated: “We are delighted to be able to assist leading cancer researchers like Dr Sharma with identifying exciting new data and look forward to the results being published in the near future. Our proprietary clara^T report has only been on the market for twelve months but has already generated considerable interest and has been adopted by some leading pharma companies and academic researchers for gene expression analysis. It has demonstrated its ability to accelerate RNA-based biomarker research, enabling deeper insights into translational cohorts for better trial stratification and potentially improving patient outcomes in the future.”

For further information on clara^T visit www.almacgroup.com/diagnostics/claratreport

To discuss your RNA biomarker research project requirements and how claraT can help, visit the Almac booth #473 at ESMO 2019.

*NOTE: The results displayed in the clara^T report are for research use only (RUO) and are not to be used for diagnostic or prognostic purposes, including predicting responsiveness to a particular therapy.

About Almac Diagnostic Services
Almac Diagnostic Services is a global stratified medicine company specializing in biomarker driven clinical trials. The company is focused on the discovery, development and commercialization of diagnostic and companion diagnostic tests. We partner with biopharma companies to provide solutions ranging from biomarker discovery to CDx development including regulatory submissions and commercialization. We also facilitate biomarker clinical trial management and clinical test delivery from our CLIA-accredited labs. The tests developed at Almac Diagnostic Services have a wide range of applications including patient selection, and are utilized in phase I to phase III registrational clinical trials.

For more information visit: www.almacgroup.com/diagnostics.

About Almac Group
A unique culture delivering exceptional solutions

The Almac Group is an established contract development and manufacturing organisation providing an extensive range of integrated services across the drug development lifecycle to the pharmaceutical and biotech sectors globally.

Our innovative services range from R&D, biomarker discovery development and commercialisation, API manufacture, formulation development, clinical trial supply, IRT (IVRS/IWRS) through to commercial-scale manufacture.

The international company is a privately owned organisation that has grown organically over the past five decades now employing over 5,000 highly skilled personnel across 17 facilities including Europe, the US and Asia.

We have a global reputation for excellence built over 50 years of client service, delivering expertise right across the drug development lifecycle and offering a tailored solution to each of our clients.

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