Caliper Life Sciences and Historx are co-developing new tissue-based imaging and analysis methods, based on immuno-fluorescence, which will deliver measurements of proteins in tissue samples.
The collaboration will enable researchers to leverage the combined imaging and analysis power of Caliper's Vectra, an automated multiplexed tissue-imaging platform, and Aqua technology, Historx's proprietary image analysis system, to provide an integrated platform to advance the identification and validation of new drug targets and improve assessment of drug response.
According to Caliper Life Sciences, the combination of Caliper and Historx technologies will enable an unprecedented level of objective and accurate diagnosis that is currently lacking, both on the research level as well as the clinical level.
The company sees the collaboration as an opportunity to bring a comprehensive solution to the research market that will help expand scientists' options for capturing key disease signatures and to aid in the development of new drugs and strategies to battle cancer.
Under the agreement, Caliper will have exclusive worldwide distribution rights for the integrated product in the life-sciences research market as the companies continue to explore additional collaborative opportunities in clinical research and diagnostics.
The Aqua technology is complimentary to Caliper's Inform image analysis software, a flexible investigative tool using trainable pattern-recognition algorithms, providing multi-analyte, per-cell quantification in FFPE tissues.
Aqua provides a simple-to-use, pre-configured and automated quantification of single biomarkers, using validated Aqua multi-label kits, producing platform-independent Aqua 'scores'.
Together, they are claimed to provide a comprehensive suite of tools to correlate protein expressions with disease progression, clinical outcome or response to therapy.
Caliper expects to launch the Aqua-enabled Vectra platform in August 2011.
