Global service provider Almac is launching a next generation sequencing (NGS) service to further expand its range of solutions supporting the development of personalized medicine.

The service is aimed to support Almac’s BioPharma partners in the development of molecular tests for trial enrichment and companion diagnostic development, specifically focusing on targeted re-sequencing. Almac previously launched a service focusing on the analysis of NGS data and based on feedback has decided to develop this service further to include data generation and to allow the delivery of NGS based assays in their CLIA lab.

Currently, Almac offers solutions using microarray, qPCR and IHC and the addition of the NGS platform fully complements this range of clinically focused diagnostic delivery platforms.

“There are only a limited number of platforms that are truly amenable to diagnostic delivery. The NGS field has now moved to a point where it is a viable delivery platform and as such is a logical addition to our suite of services,” said Paul Harkin, president and managing director of Almac’s diagnostics business unit. “We have already begun the process of developing CLIA based assays for important mutations involved in drug response.”

Almac already performs NGS for Omixon, a bioinformatics company focused on the development of validated data analysis solutions to scientists working in genomics.

“Almac complements our effort by providing the highest quality sequencing data. The MiSeq data we received from Almac is of highest quality which helped Omixon in developing and validating our HLA-typing software,” said Attila Bérces, founder and CEO of Omixon. “Next generation sequencing can revolutionize HLA-typing which is carried out on millions of samples annually.”