Thermo Fisher Scientific, Waltham, Mass, and Owlstone Medical, Cambridge, UK, have entered into a collaboration to advance the early diagnosis of cancer and other diseases through the discovery and validation of novel biomarkers by noninvasive breath sampling.

By integrating Thermo Fisher’s Orbitrap gas chromatography mass spectrometry (GC-MS) instrumentation into Owlstone Medical’s Breath Biopsy platform, Thermo Fisher’s mass analyzers will qualify for the detection of new biomarkers via a validated discovery and routine analysis project. Developed in partnership, the new analytical methods will be used to conduct metabolomic studies of breath samples for unique biomarkers that could translate into noninvasive, routine screening tests for improved early diagnosis of cancer and other diseases.

Morten Bern, Thermo Fisher Scientific.

Morten Bern, Thermo Fisher Scientific.

“There is a growing need for noninvasive diagnostic solutions to support early disease detection, patient treatment, and increased remission rates,” says Morten Bern, director of marketing for gas chromatography at Thermo Fisher Scientific. “The combination of our Orbitrap GC-MS technology with Owlstone Medical’s Breath Biopsy platform provides a unique basis to improve patient outcomes through the discovery of novel biomarkers and their incorporation into research use and clinical tests.”

Boyle

Billy Boyle, Owlstone Medical.

“The Orbitrap platform’s ability to detect a wide range of chemicals during targeted and untargeted analyses, without losing selectivity or sensitivity, promises to be of substantial benefit to our Breath Biopsy platform,” says Billy Boyle, cofounder and chief executive officer at Owlstone Medical. “With a large and rapidly expanding installed base of GC Orbitrap systems, our collaboration with Thermo Fisher Scientific represents an exciting opportunity for cross-promotion of the platform and technique, by which the benefits of Breath Biopsy can be broadly realized.”

For more information, visit Thermo Fisher Scientific.

Featured image: Thermo Fisher Scientific’s Orbitrap gas chromatography mass spectrometry instrumentation will be integrated into Owlstone Medical’s Breath Biopsy platform for the detection of new biomarkers.