Description

With the launch of Idylla™, Biocartis aims to set a new golden standard in molecular diagnostics.

Idylla™’s first test identifies cancers driven by the BRAF oncogene. Cancer patients will benefit significantly from faster therapy decisions and better guidance of treatment choices.
 
Mechelen (Belgium), September 12th, 2014 – Biocartis, an innovative molecular diagnostics company, announced today that it has officially launched its flagship molecular diagnostics system Idylla™. Idylla™’s unrivaled ease of use, access on-demand design, speed and superior sensitivity are unprecedented in the field of molecular diagnostics. Together with Idylla™, Biocartis also released its first oncology assay, the Idylla™ BRAF Mutation Test. Both Idylla™ and the Idylla™ BRAF Mutation Test have obtained CE-IVD(1) marking.

“Molecular testing plays a key role in the treatment decision process. It allows doctors to select specifically designed therapies based on the genetic profile of their patient”, said Rudi Pauwels, CEO & Executive Chairman of Biocartis. “Traditionally, molecular diagnostics involves a series of specialized, labor-intensive and time-consuming steps. As a result, most labs do not perform these tests in-house, but send them to specialized labs where they are batched, often delaying treatment decisions.”

Idylla™, Biocartis’ fully automated, real-time PCR system, sets the standard for a novel way of molecular testing. Idylla™’s access on-demand design allows clinicians to initiate a new test at any given time, without the need for batching or for trained operators. The system’s short turnaround time – between 35 and 120 minutes – enables laboratories to report same-day results, significantly speeding up the treatment decision process. Furthermore, Idylla™’s multiplex capability offers the possibility to detect up to 30 molecular targets(2) simultaneously in the same sample, making the system very well suited for more complex assays.

The BRAF Mutation Test is Idylla™’s first oncology test and is designed to determine the most appropriate treatment for a specific type of skin cancer. The assay can detect mutations directly from FFPE(3) tissue slices in about 90 minutes. This direct processing of FPE tissue slices is unique for BRAF testing. The excellent analytical sensitivity of the Idylla™ BRAF Mutation Test was demonstrated during clinical performance studies. Rudi Pauwels added: “Biocartis has the crucial expertise in house to bring a whole new generation of diagnostic tests for oncology and infectious diseases to the market. Furthermore, we are also working with Janssen Pharmaceutica and Abbott Molecular to develop a range of diagnostic tests in other disease areas.”

“We are convinced that Idylla™ will completely transform the day-to-day practice in molecular labs, making molecular testing more straightforward than ever imagined. This will significantly speed up the diagnostic process and will enable doctors to make therapy decisions in a much shorter time frame. Ultimately, patients will receive a personalized therapy faster, ultimately improving treatment outcomes”, stated Rudi Pauwels.