Credit: Shutterstock photoCA-based Affymetrix Inc. ( AFFX ) and scientific software company, BioDiscovery Inc., together launched an analysis software solution for cancer research - Nexus Copy Number.
Nexus Copy Number is an advanced discovery tool for interrogating large data sets, specifically tailored for analyzing data generated by Affymetrix's genetic analysis platforms including CytoScan Cytogenetics Suite and OncoScan FFPE Assay Kit.
CytoScan Cytogenetics Suite and OncoScan FFPE Assay Kit are key genetic analysis platforms in Affymetrix's cancer research portfolio.
The CytoScan platform is used extensively for research on hematological cancer -- Nexus Copy Number for Affymetrix has a set of tools that help uncover key genomic events in these projects.
The newly-launched software retains all the analytical tools from BioDiscovery's flagship Nexus Copy Number product, however, it is exclusively designed to support Affymetrix's arrays only. Its algorithms and statistical methods allow easy translation of raw data into meaningful results.
The data from Affymetrix assays perform well with the Nexus software for detecting copy number variants (CNVs) from different cancer samples. To date, researchers have found CNVs (a form of structural variation or alteration of the DNA of a genome) and copy neutral changes in liquid and solid tumor samples.
With the use of the Nexus Copy Number, researchers can further identify biomarkers that drive disease progression and gain additional insight into cancer biology.
Affymetrix's last reported quarter witnessed strong growth in the Genetic Analysis segment, which includes revenues from both cytogenetics and genotyping product lines. The company is extremely optimistic about the future of its OncoScan FFPE Assay Kit and is steadily altering OncoScan from a service to a product offering.
Zacks Rank
Currently Affymetrix carries a Zacks Rank #2 (Buy). Other well-performing players in the healthcare industry include ANI Pharmaceuticals, Inc. ( ANIP ), Gilead Sciences Inc. ( GILD ) and Illumina Inc. ( ILMN ). All these stocks sport a Zacks Rank #1(Strong Buy).
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The views and opinions expressed herein are the views and opinions of the author and do not necessarily reflect those of Nasdaq, Inc.
