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Multiplicom N.V. launches two new kits for cancer predisposition

Submitted by Wim on Wed, 01/25/2012 - 00:02.

    Multiplicom N.V. specialized in the development, production and commercialization of innovative molecular genetic tests, announces that it launches two new kits for cancer predisposition screening based on its Multiplexer™-technology. Concurrently the company will on September 23rd officially open its brand new laboratories on the Waterfront science park in Niel.
    The newly developed tests allow, starting from a DNA sample, to determine if somebody has an increased risk to develop colon cancer. A first test identifies mutations that may lead to the development of Familiar Adenomatous Polyposis (FAP) whereby at young age a large number of polyps develop in the gut that may lead to colon cancer. A second test identifies mutations that may lead to the development of Hereditary Non-Polyposis Colorectal Carcinoma (HNPCC) or the Lunch-syndrome, a hereditary form of colon cancer. Individuals with HNPCC have an 80% chance to develop colon cancer during their life. Early diagnosis of these hereditary diseases is very important so that these patients can undergo preventive examinations such that the disease can be detected early, at a stage where it is still treatable.
    Multiplicom’s new laboratories at the Waterfront science park in Niel have a total surface of 250 m2. Besides the laboratories, Multiplicom has also the necessary office and storage space.
    “The capital increase by Gimv, VIB and UA have allowed us to focus on the increasing demand by our customers for new genetic predisposition tests. The new FAP- and HNPCC-kits are the first results thereof” explains Dirk Pollet, CEO of Multiplicom. “Our team is particularly satisfied with the new laboratories, that should allow us to develop and produce high value CE-labeled diagnostic products” says Chief Technology Officer Jurgen Del-Favero.

BRCA MASTR Assay upgrade to v2.1

Submitted by Wim on Mon, 10/10/2011 - 08:24.
The BRCA MASTR Assay v2.0 was introduced in the first trimester of 2011. Since then numerous users have been working with the assay and provided us with very supportive feedback. We strive, together with our customers, to closely monitor our diagnostic products to enable further improvements. 

Monitoring BRCA MASTR assay v2.0 taught us that amplicon BRCA1_ex07_01 had the tendency for low read counts and therefore we decided to implement a solution in which both amplicons for BRCA1 exon 7 are replaced by one 1 amplicon encompassing the entire exon. Consequently the total number of amplicons is now 93, still with 5 multiplex PCR reactions. A detailed data sheet providing more details about the changes made to the version 2.0 can be found HERE.

This BRCA MASTR v2.1 upgrade will completely replace the version 2.0 as of 19 September onwards.

Multiplicom is striving with this improvement to achieve further optimization of your workflow in BRCA testing.

Multiplicom introduces genetic analysis of FAP genes using its MASTR technology

Submitted by Wim on Mon, 09/19/2011 - 09:31.
To identify at-risk individuals for familial adenomatous polyposis colon cancer (FAP), mutation analysis of the APC and MUYTH genes may be performed.
The new FAP MASTR assay targets the full coding exons of the APC and MUYTH genes covering 52 amplicons in total in only 3 PCR multiplexes.

With carefully developed PCR multiplexes and a fixed mixing scheme the amplicon normalization step is readily achieved and your sample-throughput per run can be maximized.
MASTR assays are compatible with the Roche Genome Sequencer systems as well as with the short read sequencing technologies such as Illumina, SOLiD and  Ion Torrent.

In the autumn of 2011, Multiplicom will introduce its HNPCC (Lynch syndrome) MASTR assay kit which is presently in final evaluation. Both FAP and HNPCC will have parallel processing steps.

Multiplicom continuously strives to expand its range of products and aims to provide a range of standardized MASTR assays for your diagnostics on next-gen sequencing.

GIMV, VIB and University of Antwerp invest EUR 2.0 million in molecular diagnostics startup Multiplicom

Submitted by Wim on Mon, 09/19/2011 - 09:06.
Gimv, Gimv managed Biotechfonds Vlaanderen, VIB and University of Antwerp (UA) together invest EUR 2.0 million in a Series-A funding round of Multiplicom, a Belgian startup focused on molecular diagnostics. Gimv and Gimv managed funds  invest EUR 1.5 million. VIB and UA together invest the balance of EUR 0.5 million.

Multiplicom is a spin out of the Jurgen Del-Favero lab of the VIB Department of Molecular Genetics at the University of Antwerp (UA), directed by Christine Van Broeckhoven, where its core Multiplexer™ technology was developed. The proceeds of the financing will be used for the development of innovative diagnostic tests, CE-marking of diagnostic assays, and to build a sales network in the European Union.

Multiplicom is specialized in the development, manufacturing and commercialization of innovative molecular genetic tests. These tests allow (i) to determine whether an individual has an increased genetic risk to develop a disease, (ii) early detection of congenital genetic defect, or (iii) to identify the most appropriate therapy for patients. Multiplicom’s assays offer a significant overall reduction in cost and time for next generation sequencing based genetic analysis.

Multiplicom already offers several diagnostic assays, including assays for breast cancer and cystic fibrosis. The company’s initial focus will be on direct sales in Western European countries in combination with newly to be appointed distributors in other countries. Moreover, Multiplicom is already using its Multiplexer™ technology in collaboration with pharma companies to identify genetic markers linked to drug safety and/or efficacy.  

Dirk Pollet, Multiplicom’s CEO, on this transaction: “VIB and UA have excelled in nurturing the Multiplexer™ technology that is unique in its ability to make highly complex genetic analysis simple to perform, building on the DNA sequencing power of the next generation sequencers that are being introduced in molecular genetic labs. With the support of a reputable investor such as Gimv, it is ourobjective to develop a broad range of CE-labeled diagnostic assays that will help patients and doctorsto better understand the genetic basis of certain diseases and predispositions, such that personalizedmedicine can become a reality”. 

Multiplicom is the sixth VIB startup (after Ablynx, Actogenix, Cropdesign, Devgen and Pronota) to receive funding from Gimv.

If you want to read the announcement from 15 April about the creation of the spinoff, you can download the press release (en, nl, fr)

Multiplicom moves into new facilities.

Submitted by LucSegers on Tue, 07/19/2011 - 17:13.

We gladly announce we have moved into our new facility in Niel. All laboratory and office functions are operational.

We want to inform you our new telephone number; + 32 3 289 14 00.

Wishing you nice holidays.

The Multiplicom Team.

News from Multiplicom

Submitted by pronovix_admin on Fri, 11/28/2008 - 13:31.

  • May 2011 : ESHG conference, Amsterdam, Netherlands 
  • May 28th 2011 : ESHG Satellite Symposium "Accelerated diagnostics with next-gen sequencing, mastering a complete workflow"
  • February 2011 : Techgene & Eurogentest GA meeting, Leuven, Belgium 
  • October 2010 : TechGene Scientific meeting, Utrecht,Netherlands 
  • June 2010 : ESHG conference, Gotheburg, Sweden
  • April 2010 : commercial launch of the BRCA & CFTR MASTR assays 
  • January 2010 : start-up of Multiplicon N.V. as a new spin-off company from VIB and University of Antwerp ; Advances in Genomics, Gent 
  • December 2009 : Moleculardiagnostics.be 
  • May 2009 : ESHG conference in Vienna 
  • March 2009 : Multiplicon is present at the Genomic Disorders Meeting in  Cambridge, introducing the on-line You-MAQ service and our latest products
  • December 2008 : Prof. Jurgen del Favero, Dr. Dirk Goossens and colleagues deliver the Proof Of Concept that our multiplexing technology is an excellent tool for upfront amplicon enrichment in a 454-sequencing application for Charcot Marie Tooth's disease type 1A, which enables simultaneous mutation-detection and CNV-analysis 
  • October 2008 : official launch of Multiplicon as a VIB Business Unit, dedicated to develop and market Molecular Diagnostics Assays and Tools.