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Figure 1. GeneNews ColonSentry(TM). A risk stratification figure enabling both patients and physicians to assess an individual's current risk of colorectal cancer.
(Figure omitted. See article PDF.)
GeneNews Limited (Toronto, Canada) is a molecular diagnostics company that is advancing the application of functional genomics to deliver on the promise of personalized health management. The company's lead product, ColonSentry(TM), is the world's first blood-based molecular test for colorectal cancer, currently available in Canada, China and Malaysia. ColonSentry is expected to be launched in the USA later this year. Also currently available, is GeneNews'suite of RNA-based services: the SentinelGX(TM) Pharmacogenomic and Companion Diagnostic BloodRNA(TM) services. The company has additional 'Sentry'products in development that focus on unmet clinical needs in oncological, cardiovascular, metabolic and neurological areas. GeneNews has raised over CAN$55 million to date from private and institutional investors and has a portfolio of more than 75 issued or pending patents.
GeneNews Inc. was founded in 1998 by Choong-Chin Liew, an expert in cardiovascular genomics and pioneer in the emerging field of molecular medicine. The company's assets were purchased by ChondroGene Limited (TSXV:CDG), a publicly listed functional genomics company, in 2003. The company was subsequently listed on the Toronto Stock Exchange (TSX:GEN) in October 2006, as GeneNews Limited.
GeneNews is headquartered in Toronto, Canada, with a global staff of 22 people. The Toronto site comprises a 10,000 square foot, ISO9001-2008 certified facility, including 5000 square feet of custom-built dedicated laboratory space. In addition, GeneNews has established an ISO17025-certified research and development facility in Penang, Malaysia. This site has gained the support of the Malaysian Ministry of Health, to augment the company's pipeline development capacity. GeneNews has built key resources including: a biobank of more than 17,000 human whole-blood/RNA samples with associated clinical information; databases of Affymetrix ® (CA, USA) whole-transcriptome data and proprietary data-mining processes that are available to support pharmaceutical partners in their biomarker discovery and validation efforts.
ColonSentry
ColonSentry is the world's first blood-based molecular test that can determine an individual's current risk for colorectal cancer (CRC), the third leading cause of cancer-related death, in both genders, in the USA [1]. The poor prognosis of CRC is largely attributed to the lack of patient compliance with the currently recommended screening tests, such as colonoscopy and...