TIDMNGG
NextGen Group PLC
16 May 2012
May 16 2012
Issued by NextGen Group Plc
NextGen introduces new generation biomarker products for brain
disorder diagnostics
-- Measures markers in human cerebrospinal fluid
-- In discussions with potential clients wishing to access product
NextGen Group Plc (AIM: NGG), an AIM listed company developing
its own diagnostics product pipeline and providing diagnostic
biomarker development services, announces the commercialisation of
a new assay for the identification of diagnostic biomarkers in
brain disorders.
The assay measures protein markers in human cerebrospinal
fluid.
The new assay will expand the product offering of NextGen's
contract research subsidiary, NextGen Sciences Inc.
An assay is the procedure for measuring the effects of a
chemical in an organism. For example, assays are used to discover
biomarkers which are used to identify the existence and progression
of a disease. Biomarkers are used in clinical trials to aid in
patient selection and to evaluate the effectiveness of a drug. They
are also used in the development of companion diagnostics that will
drive the growth of the personalised medicine market.
There is a significant need for biomarkers to monitor and
diagnose central nervous system disorders, such as dementia,
Parkinson's disease and neuropsychological disorders, within the
patient care and drug development industries.
The "CSFassay-human B.1.0" product is capable of measuring 173
cerebrospinal fluid (CSF) proteins simultaneously that have been
identified as likely biomarkers in various central nervous system
(CNS) disorders.
Barry McAleer, PhD, CEO of NextGen Sciences Inc says: "This new
product and those currently in development are already attracting
interest in the marketplace and we are in discussions with a number
of clients who wish to use these assays in their R&D
programmes."
The release of the CSFassay-human B.1.0 product is the second
assay in the family of human CSF assays and will be followed
shortly by the first generation of animal species assays from
NextGen.
The extension of the assays to animal species means that they
can be used in early stage clinical and pre-clinical trials where
treatments may be tested on subjects such as rats.
Explains Barry McAleer: "We can now apply our technology to make
custom assays for our customers in human CSF and plasma, in
multiple species and for hundreds of proteins. We can do it in just
a few months."
"Make no mistake, what we are developing here is the tip of the
assay iceberg. The quality of the assays and the numbers of
proteins which in a short timeframe we will be able to assay is
going open up massive potential to our NextGen's diagnostics
subsidiary in its own research programmes for the discovery of
diagnostic markers in CNS disorders."
NextGen uses mass spectrometry (a technique for specifically
identifying and quantifying biomarkers in samples) as its core
technology to discover highly specific protein biomarkers that can
be used for diagnostic purposes.
In 2010, the total global market for biomarkers was an estimated
$13.5 billion and is expected to grow to nearly $33.3 billion by
the end of 2015 (BCC Research).
Adds Barry McAleer: "This assay is a variation on how we have
used our technology to date and it has enabled the product to be
developed in 1-month. Really, we did this work as proof-of-concept
but now we are ready to expand our products rapidly and on three
fronts. Firstly we will develop further assays in humans that will
allow us to measure many more hundreds of proteins in CSF. Secondly
we will apply these principles to expand the protein numbers we can
measure in human plasma. Thirdly, we will introduce assays for the
same proteins in rat and monkey species."
"What we now know is that we can offer assays to our customers
that will enable them to find biomarkers in different animal
species models and that can be applied at different stages of drug
development, both pre-clinical and clinical. When they find the key
protein biomarkers we can place them all into a single,
cross-species assay."
"The speed with which we can develop these assays (three times
faster than our previous assays), in multiple species and with
hundreds of analytes, signifies a huge step forward in the speed
with which we can look to grow our business. We go from strength to
strength in our drive to be a leader in providing high quality
assays for many proteins for which until now there were no
assays."
Klaus Rosenau, Chairman of NextGen Group PLC, explains: "The
rapid progress we continue to make in our technical capabilities
and in the release of new products is opening up a very significant
set of new resources to customers who are focused on using
biomarkers to drive sustainable drug development programmes."
"We intend to rapidly exploit our current and near future
products within the project engine pipeline of the NextGen Sciences
Dx business. We have several projects within our diagnostics
project engine that are at different stages in progress as we seek
to generate further intellectual property and seek out biomarker
sale/licencing/testing routes to build value for our
shareholders."
In 2010, the total global market for biomarkers was an estimated
$13.5 billion and is expected to grow to nearly $33.3 billion by
the end of 2015 (BCC Research).
ENDS
Notes to Editors:
NextGen Group Plc (AIM: NGG) is a developer of diagnostic
markers and products through its US-based subsidiary, NextGen
Sciences Dx Inc and is a provider of diagnostic biomarker
development services for pharmaceutical and biotech companies
globally through its second US-based subsidiary, NextGen Sciences
Inc. Using advanced techniques, such as Multiple Reaction
Monitoring (MRM) mass spectrometry analysis, the Company is
developing a portfolio of robust assays for testing clinical
samples for drug safety and efficacy, and the development of
personalized treatment for patients.
NextGen Sciences Inc is a wholly owned, operational subsidiary
of NextGen Group Plc and is headquartered in Ann Arbor, Michigan,
USA. NextGen Sciences' range of services, which include biomarker
discovery, assay development, validation and testing are employed
by its customers as a key part of the biomarker-based drug and
diagnostic development process.
NextGen Sciences Dx Inc is a wholly owned, operational
subsidiary of NextGen Group Plc and is headquartered in Boston,
Massachusetts, USA. NextGen Sciences Dx utilises the expertise of
NextGen Sciences Inc to discover biomarkers and develop assays for
point-of-care diagnostics, to assist in patient treatment, for
selection of patients for clinical trials and to aid
decision-making on efficacy determination for therapeutic
development.
For further details please contact:
Klaus Rosenau
Chairman
NextGen Group
Tel: +49 (0)160 5516756
Barry McAleer PhD MBA
CEO
NextGen Sciences Inc and NextGen Sciences Dx Inc
Tel: +44 (0)7825 413 110
Nicola Marrin
Tel: + 44 (0)20 7107 8000
Seymour Pierce Limited
Nick Mattison or Nick Croysdill
Mattison Public Relations
Tel: +44 (0) 20 7645 3636
This information is provided by RNS
The company news service from the London Stock Exchange
END
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