Copenhagen, 2015-06-30 08:54 CEST (GLOBE NEWSWIRE) -- Exiqon A/S (NASDAQ OMX: EXQ), a leading provider of flexible solutions for RNA analysis, today announced the launch of its innovative XploreRNA™ cloud-computing environment.
Rapid adaptation of NGS (Next Generation Sequencing) as the initial analysis has increasingly left scientists challenged by overwhelming amounts of complex data for annotation and design of validation studies. XploreRNA™ brings together for the first time applications for RNAseq data analysis with custom assay design capabilities in one integrated work-flow that is supported by a full-fledged e-commerce system, allowing customers to quickly and easily purchase assays to their individual specifications.
The commercial availability of XploreRNA™ is an important milestone for Exiqon aspiring to be the leading provider of flexible solutions for RNA analysis. In a comment, CEO, Dr. Lars Kongsbak said:
“The XploreRNA™ cloud-computing environment is the culmination of more than 10 years of dedicated bioinformatics efforts by Exiqon. XploreRNA™ enables molecular scientists in their laboratories around the world to overcome the challenges of big data from RNAseq by integrating data analysis and the downstream workflow” and he continued: “The XploreRNA™ cloud-environment will also allow us to host third party’s applications and even to offer complementary products from other vendors.”
XploreRNA™ enables the entire RNAseq workflow in three user-friendly steps that can be completed without any knowledge of bioinformatics:
Step 1: RNAseq data analysis
RNAseq data from all leading sequencing providers, including Illumina Inc and Thermo Fisher Scientific Inc., may be submitted for analysis to the XploreRNA™ cloud-computing environment, hosted by Amazon to ensure fast data upload throughout the world.
Results from the RNA sequencing data analyses are separately available to customers in the form of a highly advanced report. The report is designed to become interactive and allow for advanced search opportunities to identify interesting microRNAs, mRNAs and lncRNAs (long non-coding RNAs). Major databases including Ensembl, miRBase etc. have been cross-annotated to provide for all-in-one searches. Relevant abstracts and original publications are integrated through PubMed to enrich search results.
XploreRNA™ does not depend on customer’s having their sequencing performed by Exiqon Services, however, RNA sequencing customers will benefit from additional integration of the data analysis and flexible product solutions offered by Exiqon.
Step 2: RNAseq data sorting
RNAseq results are summarized in simple and readily understandable tables and diagrams. A unique Gene Sorting Wizard™ enables user-friendly sorting of results, according to desired parameters, e.g. differential expression, and effortless identification of genes or transcripts of interest.
Step 3: RNA analysis with customized assay design capability
Upon sorting of the RNAseq data, a series of applications allow customers to automatically design assays according to their own specifications, whether for RNA validation or RNA functional analysis.
Products are automatically customized by advanced proprietary bioinformatics algorithms developed by Exiqon to secure optimal design in combination with the LNA™ technology. Eventually products for all kinds of analyses will be available in XploreRNA™.
The custom designed products are readily available for purchase through a fully integrated web shop.
XploreRNA™ cloud-environment is accessible at www.xplorerna.com
Exiqon today also launches a new and advanced qPCR product portfolio, ExiLERATE, for real-time PCR detection of mRNA and lncRNA to complement the company’s miRCURY LNA™ Universal RT microRNA PCR system, recently rated best performing among 12 different platforms in a comparative study published in Nature Methods 2014 Aug;11(8):809-15.
ExiLERATE PCR products are accessible at www.exiqon.com/LNA-qPCR
Additional information
Lars Kongsbak, CEO, tel. +45 4566 0888 (cell: +45 4090 2101)
Hans Henrik Chrois Christensen, CFO, tel. +45 4566 0888 (cell: +45 4090 2131)
About Exiqon (for the media)
Exiqon operates in two business areas: Exiqon Life Sciences is a leading provider of flexible solutions for RNA analysis used by academia, biotech and pharmaceutical companies around the world to make ground breaking discoveries about the correlation between gene activity and the development of cancer and other diseases. Exiqon Diagnostics develops novel molecular diagnostic tests for early detection of cancer and treatment selection for patients based on gene activity analysis, using the tools developed by Exiqon Life Sciences. Exiqon is listed on the NASDAQ in Copenhagen. For more information about us, please visit www.exiqon.com
