Health Diagnostic Laboratory (HDL) has entered into a joint venture to manufacture and distribute a gastroenterological test developed by a Canadian firm. The deal, with the Toronto-based GeneNews Ltd., calls for the construction of a new 25,000-square-foot laboratory near HDL’s headquarters in Richmond, Va., according to Tonya Mallory, HDL’s chief executive officer. The $1 million construction cost will be equally divided among HDL, GeneNews, and a third undisclosed entity that will focus on distribution. The facility, which will be called Innovative Diagnostic Laboratory (IDL), is expected to be operational and CLIA-certified by this fall. “We believe that Health Diagnostic Laboratory is an ideal partner for us in light of their experience and success in integrating high throughput laboratory operations with sales capabilities on a national scale,” said GeneNews Chief Executive Officer Gailina Liew. The IDL facility and entity will be used for development and processing of ColonSentry, a molecular-based blood test that determines a patient’s genetic risk for colon cancer through the examination of seven RNA biomarkers. It can be used to detect the presence of colon cancer in a patient, the severity of the disease, or the genetic risk the patient has of developing it. ColonSentry has been available […]
Health Diagnostic Laboratory (HDL) has entered into a joint venture to manufacture and distribute a gastroenterological test developed by a Canadian firm.
The deal, with the Toronto-based GeneNews Ltd., calls for the construction of a new 25,000-square-foot laboratory near HDL’s headquarters in Richmond, Va., according to Tonya Mallory, HDL’s chief executive officer.
The $1 million construction cost will be equally divided among HDL, GeneNews, and a third undisclosed entity that will focus on distribution.
The facility, which will be called Innovative Diagnostic Laboratory (IDL), is expected to be operational and CLIA-certified by this fall.
“We believe that Health Diagnostic Laboratory is an ideal partner for us in light of their experience and success in integrating high throughput laboratory operations with sales capabilities on a national scale,” said GeneNews Chief Executive Officer Gailina Liew.
The IDL facility and entity will be used for development and processing of ColonSentry, a molecular-based blood test that determines a patient’s genetic risk for colon cancer through the examination of seven RNA biomarkers. It can be used to detect the presence of colon cancer in a patient, the severity of the disease, or the genetic risk the patient has of developing it.
ColonSentry has been available in Canada and distributed by GeneNews since 2008. Enzo Clinical Labs, a division of Enzo Biochem, distributes ColonSentry in New York and New Jersey, according to Liew.
“Blood-based cancer testing is a natural progression for us,” Mallory said. She noted that HDL already focuses on tests that assay biomarkers for heart disease and diabetes.
