Press Release

Berlin, Germany, Lyon, France, and Seattle, WA, USA, June 22, 2020: SCIENION AG and RareCyte Inc. today announced that cellenONE® proved to be a most appropriate device for accurate single-cell dispensing of low numbers of model circulating tumor cells (CTCs) in oncology applications. RareCyte uses the versatile technology of SCIENION’s French subsidiary Cellenion for precise and reproducible dosing of a predefined number of targeted CTCs into blood samples.

Circulating tumor cells (CTCs) are the origin of distant cancer metastases and the ability to enumerate and analyze these cells has a great potential for diagnostic, prognostic and theragnostic applications in oncology. However, CTCs are very rare with only 1 CTC out of ten billion blood cells in a typical blood sample. To study these elusive cells, RareCyte has developed a proprietary sample preparation and analysis platform designed to count and analyze multiple biomarkers on CTCs. As part of analytical validation of enumeration accuracy, it is critical to generate surrogate blood samples with known numbers of model CTCs (mCTCs) at levels near the limit of detection for the assay. These studies require an accurate and precise number of spike-in samples performed in a reproducible manner which is not possible by either serial dilution or flow cytometry approaches. 

For accuracy and precision studies, RareCyte uses the CellenONE® single-cell isolation and dispensing technology which is best known for its use in single-cell analysis applications and cell line development. A customized sample deck was implemented into the cellenONE to accommodate both standard and RareCyte’s proprietary Blood Collection Tubes (AccuCyte®) as well as microscope slides. Using automated cell image recognition, this technology ensures that every droplet dispensed into blood tubes always contains only one cell. 

Tad George, SVP of Biology R&D at RareCyte, stated: “cellenONE is a versatile tool for high accuracy single cell deposition with nearly limitless substrate options. We are happy to utilize it for critical validation samples that require quantification of low count spike-in and recovery.” RareCyte’s liquid biopsy platform enables monitoring of circulating tumor cell count and biomarker expression, custom assay and companion diagnostics development, and the examination of cancer mutations in single CTCs.

Holger Eickhoff, CEO of SCIENION AG and Cellenion, stated: “RareCyte has developed a groundbreaking platform for next-generation analysis of circulating tumor cells. I am sure that liquid biopsies will considerably contribute to better diagnostics, treatment decisions and therapy monitoring in oncology. And of course, we are proud that our cellenONE single-cell dispenser has become an integral component of RareCyte’s validation process.”

• Multiyear alliance underpins Randox commitment to increase biochip manufacturing to transform rapid diagnostic testing
• SCIENION AG to integrate its precision dispensing technology to enable Randox to scale-up Biochip manufacturing across the business
• Joint activities will include co-working at Randox, Crumlin (Northern Ireland), Randox, Dungloe (Republic of Ireland), and at SCIENION AG headquarters in Berlin (Germany) – including massive scaling-up of SARS CoV2 test manufacturing

Berlin, Germany, and Crumlin, Northern Ireland, June 9, 2020: Randox today announced an important step in scaling-up biochip manufacturing by selecting SCIENION AG as its technology provider and science partner for this effort. The SCIENION engineering team has developed another full custom-made solution of the S100 in-line system to fulfill Randox’s manufacturing needs. SCIENION S100 manufacturing technology will significantly bolster Randox capabilities from research through commercialization and help accelerate the discovery and development of transformative diagnostics for patients worldwide.

Building on the well-established partnership between both companies, Randox and SCIENION have committed to immediately employ the new technology at manufacturing sites. This strategic alliance will focus on one core objective: to increase Randox manufacturing capacity for biochips significantly and immediately.

SCIENION and Randox will also collaborate to develop and apply next-generation diagnostics platforms and processes that support future key programs. The overall investment will include project funding, subject-matter experts, technology, and tools.

Mr John Lamont – Director of R&D at Randox Laboratories, said, “As Randox continues evolving into a focused diagnostics company powered by advanced multiplexed tests and data science, alliances like this will help us deliver on our goal to improve healthcare worldwide. Pairing our deep understanding of diagnostics with SCIENION’s leading expertise in high throughput microarray manufacturing, this could transform the way we discover and develop diagnostic tests for the world.”

SCIENION UK Ltd Managing Director, Dr. Andrew Sweet, added, “Our strategic alliance will combine Randox Diagnostics expertise with the power of SCIENION precision liquid handling and sciFLEXARRAYER S100 technology. Together, we aim to address some of the biggest challenges facing the life sciences industry today. This would quickly bring reliable rapid diagnostic testing technology to the frontline for widespread use in all affected regions during a pandemic such as SARS-CoV2.

We now offer free educational webinars

SCIENION and Cellenion have together launched a series of free webinars to provide a higher level of education on various applications and topics. In these times when exhibitions and conferences are delayed or cancelled, we want you to stay updated on new developments and findings through our webinars, application notes, and published papers.

We are also available for “On Demand, Application Support” which will connect you with one of our global application team members.

Stay healthy!

All SCIENION Global Entities are Open & Operating 

For 20 years, SCIENION has been an enabling company and given the current pandemic we are supporting diagnostic companies globally to fight this battle. 

There are different ways we can help, we can offer you options for Dispensing & Analysis:

•    Contract Printing Services at any one of our facilities: Berlin, Dortmund, Lyon, Tempe and UK
•    Rental Systems
•    We have an inventory of Consumables consisting of Microtiter Plates, Slides, and Buffers.  These can be ordered easily from our eShop and shipped.

Looking to Develop your Own COVID-19 Test?

As the number of positive cases to COVID-19 are raising and spreading all over the planet, diagnostic companies are rushing to bring effective solutions to the table. You can be the next one to provide your area and/or country with the right solution! If you are looking to develop your own test, get in touch with us. SCIENION technology is applicable for most diagnostic test manufacturing methods.
We can team-up with you in test development (Biosensors, Lateral Flow, Microfluidics and others) as well as ramp-up or run your manufacturing in our ISO certified contract manufacturing facility!

CE-IVD COVID-19 Genomica Test Available!

GENOMICA S.A.U. , a long lasting SCIENION´s partner, has developed a novel test aiming to quickly diagnose the coronavirus on CLART platform, using precision dispensing technology from SCIENION to produce microarrays.

Save your spot at “Multiplex Rapid Assays” Workshop

We present our last innovations at SLAS2020 in San Diego.