Abnova Signed Strategic Alliance Agreement with HangZhou Watson Biotech to Catapult the Circulating Tumor Cell Precision Market in China

Neihu, Taiwan (January 12, 2017)

Abnova Corporation announced the completion of a strategic alliance agreement with its partner HangZhou Watson Biotech to target circulating tumor cell (CTC) non-invasive, liquid biopsy market in China. Watson Biotech is a rising biotech company focusing on cell-based precision medicine for clinical research and in vitro diagnostics (IVD); it recently completed a successful venture capital financing. Abnova has licensed its CytoQuest™ CR platform consisting of instrument, chip, and bioreagent exclusively to Watson Biotech for business-to-consumer CTC product market. Both parties will join forces to apply and commercialize CTC liquid biopsy and molecular analysis targeting major cancers through clinical trials and regulatory approval.

Abnova has developed a sophisticated positive enrichment, microfluidic platform for CTC capture and isolation while leveraging its antibody expertise and wide repertoire of monoclonal antibodies and fluorescent in situ probes. Abnova is also actively expanding its CTC molecular analysis in digital PCR and next-generation sequencing (NGS). Watson Biotech has built a large network of distributors, hospitals, clinics, physicians, and clinical researchers in China. Moreover, Watson Biotech has a track-record in designing and orchestrating clinical trials and gaining CFDA approval for instrumentation and bioreagents. Both companies will aim to enhance and broaden the clinical applications and quality standards of CTC liquid biopsy in China.

Since the identification of precision medicine as one of its key strategic developmental objectives in China’s 13th Five-Year Plan by the Chinese government, the precision medicine market has experienced increased attention and rapid growth. Watson Biotech, as one of the founders in the CTC Industry Alliance in China, focuses on providing integrative CTC solutions for cancer diagnosis and multitudes of clinical applications including companion diagnostics, treatment response, drug resistance, recurrence and metastasis. These clinical applications rely principally on biomarkers and bioreagents to successfully drive the CTC diagnosis and testing. In additional to the CytoQuest™ CR, Abnova has developed a CytoBot™ negative enrichment platform to complement and provide a total solution for CTC liquid biopsy in China.