New Apostle MiniMax Cell-Free DNA Isolation Kit is Based Nanoparticles

Press Release Summary:

• Designed for extracting cfDNA from plasma by using manual or automated workflows
• Capable of performing reliably across range of volume inputs and recovers high quantities of cfDNA
• Reduces the risk of contaminants by effectively removing from plasma

Original Press Release:

Beckman Coulter Life Sciences Enters Liquid Biopsy Partnership with Apostle Inc.

Indianapolis, USA (February 28, 2019) – Today, at the Advances in Genome Biology and Technology (AGBT) General Meeting,* Beckman Coulter Life Sciences announces the launch of Apostle MiniMaxTM High Efficiency Cell-Free DNA Isolation Kit through an exclusive partnership with Apostle, a liquid biopsy company. As cfDNA workflows move beyond theoretical and into human health applications, Apostle's industry-leading chemistry paired with Beckman Coulter Life Sciences’ portfolio of genomic reagents and liquid handling platforms enables researchers to meet the growing demands for sequencing of tumor-derived cfDNA.

Surpassing industry standards for yield and purity of cfDNA, Apostle MiniMax is a magnetic nanoparticle-based kit to extract cfDNA from plasma using manual or automated workflows. Due to limited cfDNA concentration, sufficient yield for next-generation sequencing (NGS) or other downstream applications can require higher volumes of plasma. As the volume increases, issues such as recovery efficiency and workflow complexity often arise. Plasma contains a host of contaminants that are problematic at this scale and can reduce assay sensitivity. Apostle MiniMax technology performs reliably across a range of volume inputs, consistently recovering high quantities of cfDNA, while effectively removing contaminants. 

"Beckman Coulter Life Sciences is committed to working collaboratively with our customers to find the best technologies to meet their complex needs,” said Steve Wowk, Director of Genomics, Beckman Coulter Life Sciences.

“We have listened to their ongoing challenges in working with cfDNA and sought to find ways to effectively combat those issues. This includes recognizing that an innovative product from a startup like Apostle is the best technology to address these needs."

"Beckman Coulter Life Sciences’ established global presence and commitment to life sciences makes them an ideal collaborator to provide access to our innovative nucleic acid isolation products to customers around the globe," said David Ge, President and CEO, Apostle Inc.

For more information on Apostle MiniMaxTM High Efficiency Cell-Free DNA Isolation Kit, please visit www.beckman.com/apostle-minimax.

Beckman Coulter Life Sciences

Beckman Coulter Life Sciences develops, manufactures and markets products that simplify, automate and innovate complex biomedical testing. For more than 75 years, our products have been making a difference in people’s lives by improving the productivity of medical professionals and scientists, supplying critical information for improving patient health and delivering trusted solutions for research and discovery. Scientists use our life science research instruments to study complex biological problems including causes of disease and potential new therapies or drugs. For more information, visit beckman.com.

Apostle Inc.

Apostle Inc. is a biotechnology company in Menlo Park, CA. Apostle focuses on research, development, licensing, and sales of novel technologies, and the related intellectual properties, products, and services for diagnosis and treatment of human diseases. Apostle is dedicated to fundamentally improving the accuracy and efficiency of liquid biopsy—the testing of circulating free DNA (cfDNA)—in early cancer detection or other clinical applications such as noninvasive prenatal testing (NIPT) and tests for infectious diseases.

* The Advances in Genome Biology and Technology (AGBT) General Meeting is being held in Marco Island, Florida, USA, from February 27 to March 2, 2019.