Almac launch XCEL array platform for biomarker discovery

3 June 2010

Almac has launched the XCEL array, a biomarker discovery platform that enables the identification of biomarkers within multiple disease areas.

 It contains 92,000 transcripts, significantly more than is available on any other platform and the technology is optimised for use with formalin fixed paraffin embedded (FFPE) tissue.

XCEL array is a high density transcriptome based microarray based on the industry standard Affymetrix GeneChip platform. The content of XCEL has been derived from high quality proprietary sequence data, as well as mining public gene expression and sequence databases. The design methodologies of the array are derived from validated methods derived for Almac’s range of cancer DSA (disease specific arrays).

The substantial content on Almac’s XCEL array ensures that the platform technology is ideally suited for research in cross-disease areas, a notable advantage to pharmaceutical companies.

President and Managing Director of Almac Diagnostics, Professor Paul Harkin commented: “Our XCEL array provides an ideal platform for the discovery of biomarkers in a range of diseases and where cross disease compatibility is important. This array becomes an important part of our solutions for the delivery of personalised medicine”