SOUTH SAN FRANCISCO, Calif., May 29, 2019 (GLOBE NEWSWIRE) -- Fluidigm Corporation (NASDAQ:FLDM), an innovative biotechnology tools provider with a vision to improve life through comprehensive health insight, today introduced the Advanta™ RNA Fusions NGS Library Prep Assay for detection of over 380 gene fusion pairs from solid tumors and hematological cancers. Developed to fuel new advances in translational and clinical cancer research, the assay uniquely empowers researchers to interrogate gene fusions from a wide range of cancer types using a simple and highly efficient automated NGS library prep workflow.

Gene fusions are an important and growing class of genetic markers associated with human oncogenesis. These commonly occur when a DNA rearrangement creates a fusion of two different genes. Often resulting in the production of a chimeric oncogenic fusion protein or significant amplification of oncogene expression, gene fusions can drive cancer progression and influence therapeutic response.

The Advanta RNA Fusions NGS Library Prep Assay was developed to profile over 1,000 known gene fusion breakpoints present in tumor RNA, automating library preparation for subsequent analysis on Illumina® NGS platforms. Requiring as little as 10 ng of RNA material per sample, the automated microfluidic workflow reduces hands-on time and lowers reaction volumes to nanoliter scale, delivering significant cost savings per sample.

"We designed the Advanta RNA Fusions Library Prep Assay to work in concert with our new Advanta Solid Tumor Library Prep Assay for detection of both somatic variants and RNA fusions in a single, simple workflow," said David King, PhD, Vice President of Research and Development at Fluidigm. “In addition to this product we also developed the new Juno™ LP 8.8.6 microfluidic cartridge that enables users to prepare NGS libraries for up to six different panels at a time with 10-fold lower sample input. When used together, this new solution offers great flexibility for both academic researchers and service providers while ensuring consistent performance and high-quality results.”

“Empowering the cancer community to obtain a comprehensive view of human cancers is central to our growth strategy,” said Chris Linthwaite, President and CEO of Fluidigm. "We are excited to offer these new cancer assays and enhanced workflow capabilities to fuel the identification of high-value biomarkers and accelerate therapeutic development.”

About Fluidigm
Fluidigm (NASDAQ:FLDM) is an industry-leading biotechnology tools provider with a vision to improve life through comprehensive health insight. We focus on the most pressing needs in translational and clinical research, including cancer, immunology, and immunotherapy. Using proprietary CyTOF® and microfluidics technologies, we develop, manufacture, and market multi-omic solutions to drive meaningful insights in health and disease, identify biomarkers to inform decisions, and accelerate the development of more effective therapies. Our customers are leading academic, government, pharmaceutical, biotechnology, and plant and animal research laboratories worldwide. Together with them, we strive to increase the quality of life for all. For more information, visit fluidigm.com.

Fluidigm, the Fluidigm logo, Advanta, CyTOF and Juno are trademarks and/or registered trademarks of Fluidigm Corporation in the United States and/or other countries. All other trademarks are the sole property of their respective owners. Fluidigm products are provided for Research Use Only. Not for use in diagnostic procedures.

Forward-Looking Statement for Fluidigm
This press release contains forward-looking statements within the meaning of the Private Securities Litigation Reform Act of 1995, including, among others, statements regarding the anticipated benefits of newly introduced products and the growth and potential of cancer research. Forward-looking statements are subject to numerous risks and uncertainties that could cause actual results to differ materially from currently anticipated results, including but not limited to risks relating to challenges inherent in developing, manufacturing, launching, marketing, and selling new products; potential product performance and quality issues; intellectual property risks; and competition. Information on these and additional risks and uncertainties and other information affecting Fluidigm business and operating results is contained in Fluidigm’s Annual Report on Form 10-K for the year ended December 31, 2018, and in its other filings with the Securities and Exchange Commission. These forward-looking statements speak only as of the date hereof. Fluidigm disclaims any obligation to update these forward-looking statements except as may be required by law.

Contacts:

Media:
Michaeline Bunting
Senior Director, Marketing
650 737 4190
michaeline.bunting@fluidigm.com

Investors:
Agnes Lee
Vice President, Investor Relations
650 416 7423
agnes.lee@fluidigm.com

Source: Fluidigm Corporation