Affymetrix has granted Vita Genomics and its fully owned subsidiary, Shanghai GeneCore BioTechnologies, non-exclusive access to Affymetrix micro-array technology to develop and market in-vitro diagnostic (IVD) tests for alpha interferon treatment response in patients with HBV and HCV, as well as for early onset and allergic asthma in infants and young children. The resulting micro-array-based IVD products would provide clinicians with better diagnosis methods and more efficient approaches for treating patients and managing these diseases.

As part of the Powered by Affymetrix programme, Vita Genomics is able to incorporate Affymetrix' patented arrays into its molecular diagnostic assays developed to predict drug efficacy prior to treatment and assess risks to facilitate disease prevention, claims a company release.

"Application of using single nucleotide polymorphisms (SNP) for translational medicine studies is a trend in the pharmaceutical industry in the post Human Genome Project era. We, as a discovery/specialty CRO company, are pleased to be a partner with Affymetrix, a world-leading microarray tooling company, to synergistically commercialize in vitro diagnostic products in this field," said Ellson Chen, president and CEO at Vita Genomics.

"The microarray-based tools and applications in the Powered by Affymetrix programme are accelerating the discovery and implementation of HBV, HCV and asthma companion and predictive diagnostics in this era of molecular medicine," said Robert Lipshutz, senior vice president, molecular diagnostics and emerging markets at Affymetrix.

"The development of companion test for certain drugs, especially for those drugs with important side-effects or drugs that only benefit sub-population groups are reaching the next stage with this partnership. By using the Affymetrix platform, Vita Genomics could streamline its product development processes, expedite product registration and ultimately accelerate the time to reach the market," said John Gu, senior vice president and chief business officer of Vita Genomics.

Under the Powered by Affymetrix programme, companies license technology from Affymetrix to develop innovative micro-array products.