Sign in Subscribe
Pharmaceutical industry

Amersham Pharmacia Biotech Partners with Riken and Yusuke Nakamura for Genetic Research

Strategic Insights

— 1 min read

Amersham Pharmacia Biotech (APB) has formed an agreement with Riken and leading genetic researcher Yusuke Nakamura of Tokyo University to utilize the SNiPer SNP analysis system for studying genetic diversity in the Japanese population. The collaboration aims to analyze genetic differences that can impact response to drug treatments. Research staff from APB will work with Nakamura to validate the SNiPer technology in a laboratory setting, focusing on single nucleotide polymorphisms (SNPs) across the genome.

Key Takeaways:

  • APB has partnered with Riken and Yusuke Nakamura to utilize the SNiPer SNP analysis system for genetic research, specifically focusing on genetic diversity in the Japanese population.
  • The collaboration aims to identify genetic differences that can affect response to drug treatments, with research staff from APB working alongside Nakamura in a laboratory setting.
  • The SNiPer system uses Rolling Circle Amplification (RCA), a sensitive and specific method for amplifying nucleic acids that eliminates the need for pre-amplification of genomic DNA by polymerase chain reaction (PCR).
  • The SNiPer system can analyze up to 50,000 genotypes per day and has the potential to increase this capacity to 500,000 genotypes per day.
  • The exclusive license for RCA technology was granted to APB by Molecular Staging, Inc.
  • The research will utilize a combination of genotyping and analysis to provide insights into genetic diversity and its impact on drug response.

Statistics:

  • 50,000 genotypes per day: the current capacity of the SNiPer system
  • 500,000 genotypes per day: the potential increased capacity of the SNiPer system
  • APB staff will work alongside Yusuke Nakamura in the laboratory setting for the validation study
  • SNiPer system expedites genetic analysis through the use of RCA, eliminating the need for PCR

Sources:

  • Amersham Pharmacia Biotech
  • Riken
  • Yusuke Nakamura, Tokyo University
  • Molecular Staging, Inc.
  • (No dates mentioned in the source material)

Read more