Alliance to Pursue Down's Syndrome Test

A license has been granted to the Bracco Group (Milan, Italy) by Ikonisys, Inc. (New Haven, CT, USA) to use and market Ikonisys' noninvasive test for the detection of Down's syndrome. In return, the Bracco Group will become an equity investor in Ikonisys, a biomedical company focused on cell-based diagnostics, and will assist the company's clinical trials of the test.

Ikonisys is developing a highly flexible platform for both the identification of cells of interest and diagnostic signals generated within those cells. The platform makes it possible to analyze large volumes of information in an accurate and rapid manner.The Down's syndrome test is based on a systems-integrated approach that combines molecular and cellular biology, microscopy, and image analysis. The test is designed to detect genetic signals in fetal cells circulating in the maternal bloodstream during pregnancy, facilitated by Ikonisys' automated digital Ikoniscope microscope. Bracco will market the test through the Centro Diagnostico Italiano, an affiliated clinical reference laboratory in Italy.

"Cell-based diagnostics allow the generation of molecular information to be gathered in the context of a cell of known origin,” said Dr. Petros Tsipouras, CEO of Ikonisys. "This technique of analyzing highly characterized cells enables improvement in disease diagnosis and management.”




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