Genewiz Inc., leading global genomics service provider, has collaborated with BeiGene, a Beijing based biotechnology company focused on the discovery and development of innovative oncology treatment. The two companies will work together to accelerate cancer biomarker discovery, which will later aid drug target identification.

BeiGene has established more than one hundred patient-derived primary tumor models in-house as part of their portfolio of oncology target therapies in early stage development. Utilizing OncoGxOne Discovery cancer panels, BeiGene will have the ability to identify and understand genetic variations in prevalent cancers throughout China and the Asia-Pacific region.

"Our collaboration with Genewiz and application of the OncoGxOne cancer panels will enable characterization of primary tumour models at the genetic level, with a focus on aberrations in cancer related genes," stated Dr Lai Wang, head of Discovery Biomarkers, BeiGene.

"Due to the unique ability to detect aberrations including gene fusions and copy number variance (CNV), using OncoGxOne Discovery cancer panels we have capabilities to identify novel mutations present in BeiGene’s primary cancer tumor models," commented Dr Guanghui Hu, vice president of Translational Genomics. "Later, this invaluable information can be used for cancer diagnosis and treatment, which will have a direct impact on patient treatment and quality of life."

"We believe that this collaboration will strongly support our translational research and biomarker discovery," asserted Dr Wang.

Genewiz, Inc. is a global contract research organization (CRO) specializing in genomic services, including DNA sequencing, gene synthesis, molecular biology, genomic, bioinformatics, and GxP/CLIA regulatory-compliant services.