{"id":1581,"date":"2021-04-22T22:37:56","date_gmt":"2021-04-23T03:37:56","guid":{"rendered":"https:\/\/merlinmelanomatest.com\/us\/?post_type=press_release&p=1581"},"modified":"2025-03-25T22:38:51","modified_gmt":"2025-03-26T03:38:51","slug":"skylinedx-and-biocartis-sign-collaboration-to-develop-the-merlin-assay-a-test-predicting-risk-for-nodal-metastasis-in-melanoma-on-idylla","status":"publish","type":"press_release","link":"https:\/\/merlinmelanomatest.com\/us\/press_release\/skylinedx-and-biocartis-sign-collaboration-to-develop-the-merlin-assay-a-test-predicting-risk-for-nodal-metastasis-in-melanoma-on-idylla\/","title":{"rendered":"SkylineDx and Biocartis Sign Collaboration to Develop the Merlin Assay, a Test Predicting Risk for Nodal Metastasis in Melanoma, on Idylla\u2122"},"content":{"rendered":"

ROTTERDAM (the Netherlands), SAN DIEGO (US), April 22, 2021:<\/strong>\u00a0SkylineDx and Biocartis Group NV, an innovative molecular diagnostics company (Euronext Brussels: BCART), today announce the signing of a new partnership agreement which targets the development of SkylineDx\u2019 novel proprietary test, the Merlin Assay, on Biocartis\u2019 rapid and easy-to-use molecular diagnostics platform Idylla\u2122. This assay is aimed at predicting a patient\u2019s risk of nodal metastasis in melanoma. Under the terms of the partnership agreement, SkylineDx will lead the development of the Merlin Assay on Idylla\u2122, while Biocartis will lead the commercialization in Europe through its growing Idylla\u2122 network.<\/p>\n

Melanoma is the deadliest form of skin cancer [1] and incidence rates are substantial in Europe with approx. 144k cases\/year [2], in the US with approx. 100k cases\/year [3] and in Australia with approx. 16,000 cases\/year [4]. When diagnosed, prognosis and treatment decisions depend on disease staging [5]. Current staging methods include performing an SLN (sentinel lymph node) biopsy [6], which is an invasive surgical intervention under general anesthesia, carrying a >10% risk of complications [7]. Moreover, 80-85% of SLN biopsies appear unnecessary as no nodal metastases are found [8].<\/p>\n

The Merlin Assay aims to reduce the number of unnecessary SLN surgeries through the combination of gene expression (from the primary melanoma) with the patient\u2019s age and tumor thickness, allowing the identification of patients at low risk of nodal metastasis [8]. As such, the Idylla\u2122 Merlin Assay would provide a rapid and easy-to-use tool for physicians to identify patients who may safely forgo the SLN biopsy procedure.<\/p>\n

Today, the Merlin Assay is already available as a Laboratory Developed Test in SkylineDx\u2019 CAP\/CLIA laboratory in San Diego (California, US). For Europe, a molecular subtyping test kit for\u00a0in vitro\u00a0<\/em>diagnostic use, mainly addressing centralized expert laboratories is under development and will be commercialized by Biocartis ahead of the Idylla\u2122 version of the assay. Building on Idylla\u2122\u2019s decentralization capabilities, the Idylla\u2122 version of the Merlin Assay will allow improved access for patients across Europe while reducing time to results.<\/p>\n

\u201cThrough this collaboration with Biocartis, we enable a broader availability of our test portfolio in melanoma. SkylineDx focuses on precision diagnostics for all cancer patients and with the addition of this new version of our Merlin Assay, more laboratories and care settings will be able to have access to this assay. Our teams are fully up to speed and we really look forward to start the development process together\u201d, comments Dharminder Chahal, CEO of SkylineDx.<\/p>\n

Herman Verrelst, CEO of Biocartis, adds: \u201cWe are excited about teaming up with SkylineDx to improve melanoma patient outcome and help clinicians, also in smaller, non-specialized lab settings, to rapidly and easily guide the true need for surgical removal of lymph nodes in melanoma patients. This Idylla\u2122 Merlin Assay also connects well with our current oncology offering, where the Idylla\u2122 BRAF Mutation Test (CE-IVD) [9] can subsequently help to guide a patient\u2019s treatment decisions in cases of metastatic melanoma.\u201d<\/p>\n

As part of the agreement and based on SkylineDx\u2019 highly valuable portfolio of novel molecular tests in varying stages of development and expected attractive value-based pricing, Biocartis will invest up to EUR 10m in secured convertible notes to be issued by SkylineDx in different project-based instalments throughout the collaboration. The initiation of the development of the Merlin Assay on Idylla\u2122 is expected to start in 2021.<\/p>\n

About SkylineDx<\/strong><\/p>\n

SkylineDx is a biotechnology company, focused on research & development of molecular diagnostics in oncology and inflammatory diseases. The company is headquartered in Rotterdam (the Netherlands) and complemented with a field medical and scientific affairs team in the US and a CAP\/CLIA certified laboratory in San Diego (California). SkylineDx uses its expertise to bridge the gap between academically discovered gene expression signatures and commercially available diagnostic products with high clinical utility, assisting healthcare professionals in accurately determining the type or status of disease or predict a patient\u2019s response to treatment. Based on test results, healthcare professionals can tailor the treatment approach to the individual patient. To learn more on SkylineDx, please visit\u00a0www.skylinedx.com<\/a>. \u00a0To learn more on the Merlin Assay and the overarching Falcon Melanoma R&D Program, please visit\u00a0www.falconprogram.com<\/a>.<\/p>\n

About Biocartis<\/strong><\/p>\n

Biocartis (Euronext Brussels: BCART) is an innovative molecular diagnostics (MDx) company providing next generation diagnostic solutions aimed at improving clinical practice for the benefit of patients, clinicians, payers and industry. Biocartis\u2019 proprietary MDx Idylla\u2122 platform is a fully automated sample-to-result, real-time PCR (Polymerase Chain Reaction) system that offers accurate, highly reliable molecular information from virtually any biological sample in virtually any setting. Biocartis is developing and marketing a continuously expanding test menu addressing key unmet clinical needs, with a focus in oncology, which represents the fastest growing segment of the MDx market worldwide. Today, Biocartis offers tests supporting melanoma, colorectal and lung cancer, as well as for SARS-CoV-2 and sepsis. More information:\u00a0www.biocartis.com<\/a>.\u00a0Follow us on\u00a0Twitter<\/a>: @Biocartis_.<\/p>\n

Footnotes<\/strong><\/p>\n