SomaGenics, Inc., a privately held biotech company, has launched its novel miR-ID platform for detecting miRNA using a circularization-based RT-qPCR method.  miR-ID is highly sensitive, uses single-dye detection, and can discriminate miRNA isoforms with single nucleotide differences at any position along the molecule.  The technology works well with all sample sources, including total RNA, cell lysates, and tissue lysates.

“The miR-ID miRNA detection platform is highly sensitive and provides much better sequence discrimination than leading competitors,” said Brian Johnston, CEO of SomaGenics.  “By using unmodified DNA primers, single-dye detection (SYBR green), and no specialized probes miR-ID helps keep costs low and allows for the rapid development of assays for miRNAs of interest.”

SomaGenics currently offers over 50 different assays covering several of the most widely studied microRNA families. These miR-ID assays provide unmatched discrimination between miRNA isoforms with single nucleotide differences with virtually no cross-talk between miRNAs from the same family.

For the analysis of total RNA, no enrichment for small RNAs is required: miR-ID works as well with total RNA as with enriched fractions.

In addition to applications to purified RNA samples, the miR-ID technology has been incorporated into SomaGenics’ miR-Direct technology for the direct quantification of microRNA from plasma or serum.  The company is excited to announce that the miR-Direct/ID technology will be presented at the 11th Annual Meeting of the Oligonucleotide Therapeutics Society,  October 11-14, 2015 in Leiden, the Netherlands by Anne Dallas, PhD, Principal Scientist at SomaGenics.

SomaGenics is a privately held biotech company with offices and laboratories located in Santa Cruz, California.  It specializes in developing innovative technologies that focus on RNA molecules as therapeutic agents and targets as well as biomarkers.