NuGen Technologies Inc, a market leader in the development of solutions for next-generation sequencing (NGS) applications, has released a novel targeted enrichment method that, in a single assay, will detect all possible fusion events involving 446 cancer fusion genes as curated by the Wellcome Trust Sanger Institute’s Catalog of Somatic Mutations in Cancer (COSMIC).

The proprietary NuGen technology uses a unique single-primer strategy that requires only one partner exon to be targeted, thereby enabling not only detection of known fusion events but also discovery of novel gene fusions and alternative splice forms.

NuGen’s proprietary single-primer enrichment technology (SPET) is the core technology that delivers a highly sensitive method for detection of low-abundance gene fusion transcripts with as little as 10 ng of total RNA derived from either fresh or formalin-fixed paraffin-embedded tissues. The easy, cost-effective assay employs a single-day, rapid workflow.

“Screening samples for a broad range of gene fusions has been a costly and time-consuming process until now,” says Doug Amorese, vice president of R&D at NuGen. “The SPET technology for targeted RNA sequencing enables NGS analysis to identify any fusion event in the targeted gene set, and will be an important approach both in basic research and the development of RNA-Seq based cancer diagnostic and prognostic tests.”

The Ovation fusion panel target enrichment system queries 5,769 exons and is available with 8, 32, and 96 barcodes for efficient library generation and cost-effective sequencing analysis.

In addition, customized gene fusion panels using the same technology can also be made to specific user requirements. “We are actively working with partners who are currently using the standard Ovation fusion panel target enrichment system in clinical research programs, and anticipate moving forward with custom-designed fusion panels for use in clinical testing in the future,” says Joe Don Heath, NuGen’s vice president of diagnostic market development.

Based in San Carlos, Calif, NuGen offers custom design services for target enrichment products with a 3-week turnaround from design to delivery, and has an active diagnostic partner program for the supply of sample preparation technology. For more information, visit NuGen Technologies Inc.