Under the terms of the collaboration, University of Texas (UT) Southwestern researchers will conduct preclinical and clinical studies to evaluate the efficacy of Homspera. As part of these studies, WaferGen’s SmartChip Real-Time PCR System will be used to understand the mechanism of action of Homspera.
The collaborators believe that these studies may demonstrate the key role that the innovative capabilities of the SmartChip system can play in the field of drug development, particularly in validating relevant gene expression biomarkers and assessing their impact on patient response to treatment.
Additionally, the studies are expected to provide ImmuneRegen with important data to support potential applications for Homspera in a range of therapeutic applications.
Alnoor Shivji, WaferGen’s chairman and CEO, said: “The opportunity to involve our SmartChip Real-Time PCR System in the development of a promising therapeutic agent such as Homspera is a significant achievement for WaferGen and one that we believe will provide immensely valuable validation for the SmartChip platform.
“We expect this collaboration to provide a clear demonstration of the value that the SmartChip system can offer in the area of drug discovery and development, particularly as it pertains to harnessing the potential of biomarkers.”