2013年10月16日 OpGen与日立高新开发人类染色体定位分析服务
日立高科与OpGen公司宣布，双方签订了共同开发人类基因组结构分析相关技术的协议，将共同开发用于将来的临床研究的人类基因组结构分析服务。两家公司将把OpGen拥有的先进的全基因组光学图谱技术和日立高科及日立集团拥的云型ICT系统融合在一起，开发能够广泛提供快速且高精度的人类基因组结构分析服务的云解决方案。 

       近年来，随着新一代DNA测序仪的普及，分析大量的核苷酸序列信息成为现实，基因组结构分析开始向高速化发展。但是，新一代DNA测序仪只能获得基因组片断的数据，要想分析完整的基因组序列，不仅需要很多工序和大量时间，而且也无法对基因组序列内的移位及缺失等结构变化进行分析，存在诸多课题。基因组结构变化大多与癌症、自闭症及阿尔茨海默症等疾病有关。此类遗传基因信息可以用来开发新的治疗方法，将来会成为根据每位患者的遗传基因信息来诊断疾病及决定治疗方案的指针。 

       日立高科在基于CE（毛细管电泳式）DNA序列业务的生命科学及临床研究领域有着丰富的经验及业绩，并拥有利用日立集团信息平台的安全技术等先进ICT技术。而OpGen的全基因组光学图谱技术则可快速且低成本地制作整个基因组的限制酶切割图。 

       此次日立高科和OpGen签订共同开发协议后，将融合双方的技术，开发能够实现快速且高精度的人类基因组结构分析的云解决方案，比如对能够用新一代DNA测序仪获得的基因组序列予以确认，以及发现大规模的基因组结构变化，等等。目前日立高科正在美国开发人类基因组结构分析云解决方案，该解决方案将提供让研究人员、临床医生，将来甚至能让患者自己访问完整基因图谱数据、人类基因组结构分析工具及临床数据的门户，另外还将提供能够获得人类基因组完整遗传基因测评结果的分析模块。（记者：大石 基之，《日经制造》） 

OpGen and Hitachi High-Technologies Corporation Enter into an Agreement to Develop Human Chromosome Mapping Service

OpGen Contacts:
Michael Farmer
Director, Marketing
(240) 813-1284 office
mfarmer@opgen.com

Dan Budwick (Media)
Pure Communications, Inc.
(973) 271-6085
dan@purecommunicationsinc.com 

Companies to Develop Offering that Combines 
Whole Genome Mapping™ with Cloud-Based Informatics and Data Management Platforms

Gaithersburg, Md. and Tokyo—October 16, 2013— OpGen, Inc., a leading genetic analysis company, and Hitachi High-Technologies Corporation today announced an agreement to develop a comprehensive human chromosome mapping analytical service for clinical research applications by a combination of OpGen’s market-leading Whole Genome Mapping™ technology and Hitachi High-Technologies’ and Hitachi group’s cloud-based systems. This service will include bioinformatics tools to complete human genome sequence, and detect and analyze structural variations in human chromosomes. 

“Hitachi High-Technologies Corporation is a global technology leader, and we are pleased to partner with them to create an integrated solution for human genome analysis that captures important structural variation information,” said Douglas White, chief executive officer of OpGen, Inc. “The resulting human chromosome mapping service will enable OpGen to continue its expansion into clinical research with the potential to develop diagnostic applications for diseases based on a patient’s genetic information.” 

Under the terms of this agreement, Hitachi High-Technologies will fund development, and the companies will work together to combine the strengths of their proprietary technologies. OpGen’s Whole Genome Mapping provides a unique view into structural variation in human chromosomes and offers a more accurate and complete analysis of the human genome than next generation sequencing data alone can provide. Many structural variations are associated with cancer, autism, Alzheimer’s disease and many other cognitive disorders. This type of genetic information will enable development of new therapies, and eventually will empower the broader healthcare community to diagnose and guide treatment decisions based on a patient’s genetic profile. 

Hitachi High-Technologies, with recognized experience and achievements through DNA sequencer business in the life science and translational research markets, has been developing the cloud platform for human genome data analysis with Hitachi Solutions, in Foster City, California. The human genome cloud platform will enable secure entry portals for researchers, clinicians, and eventually patients to access Whole Genome Mapping data, human chromosome analytical tools and ultimately, clinically actionable data. As part of the service, Hitachi High-Technologies also will add human DNA sequence analytical tools, which complement Whole Genome Mapping, to provide complete genetic evaluation of human chromosomes.

“This partnership leverages our development of the cloud-based informatics platform and provides enabling and proven technology for human genetic analysis,” said Takashi Matsuzaka, senior vice president and executive officer, CTO of Hitachi High-Technologies Corporation. “This is a great example of how Hitachi High-Technologies is continuously enhancing our healthcare informatics offerings for customers worldwide by partnering our technologies with other innovative companies, such as OpGen.”

OpGen and Hitachi High-Technologies/Hitachi Solutions plan to introduce more details about the service in the Hitachi booths 811 & 813 at the American Society of Human Genetics Annual Meeting, being held October 23-25 in Boston.

- See more at: http://www.opgen.com/news/opgen-and-hitachi-high-technologies-corporation-enter-into-an-agreement-to-develop-human-chromosome-mapping-service#sthash.nMujyAEk.dpuf