BioSkryb Genomics' new single-cell analysis service offers deeper insights into blood cancers

BioSkryb Genomics, a Durham company focused on single-cell and ultra-low input multiomics, has introduced a new service called ResolveSEQ MRD, which allows more detailed classification and characterization of measurable residual disease (MRD) for blood cancers. 

Detecting MRD — the small number of hematologic cancer cells remaining after a course of treatment — is an important part of managing blood cancers because it helps doctors track how the disease responds to treatment. While today’s MRD tests can detect remaining cancer cells, they don’t always explain why some cells survive or resist treatment.

“ResolveSEQ MRD addresses this gap by providing single-cell genome and transcriptome analysis of those cells,” said Suresh Pisharody, CEO of BioSkryb Genomics. “This can give hematologic oncology researchers a deeper understanding of the cells that survived therapy, based on genetic mutations in individual cells and changes in gene expression. This insight into why certain cancer cells survive therapy can be used to develop better, and more personalized, treatments.” 

From detection to actionable insights

MRD monitoring has transformed patient care for hematological malignancies like acute lymphoblastic leukemia, acute myeloid leukemia, chronic lymphocytic leukemia and multiple myeloma. This technology determines disease risk, helping clinicians decide on the optimal treatment intensity while reducing unnecessary exposure to toxic therapies. 

ResolveSEQ MRD provides additional information by performing comprehensive molecular profiling using single-cell genome and transcriptome analysis of MRD cells identified through flow cytometry. This data is used for clonal evolution mapping, visually representing the relationships between the MRD cells and pre-treatment samples. This allows researchers to trace the evolutionary pathways of cancer cells, uncovering the mechanisms that contribute to disease persistence.

The platform can also begin classifying MRD-positive patients into low-risk and high-risk categories based on their mutations and expression patterns. Going beyond detecting residual disease to understanding why it endures can help researchers and clinicians target remaining cancer cells with biomarker-based risk assessment and MRD-directed therapy. This could eventually lead to even more personalized therapy for patients based on specific biological features of their persistent disease.

Certified partner program

To meet the growing demand for its multiomic products and services, BioSkryb Genomics has also introduced the Certified Service Provider (CSP) Program. This program offers the full range of BioSkryb ResolveServices through the company’s partner labs. Each CSP lab undergoes rigorous training and validation to ensure the highest standards of performance and accuracy.

“CSP status ensures that our partners provide the same precision and expertise as BioSkryb’s in-house services, with added benefits such as expanded sequencing options, adjacent technologies and CAP/CLIA certified labs for regulated work,” said Pisharody. “This provides a broader availability of service projects for researchers and clinicians who would like to pursue projects without establishing our workflows in their laboratories. We also offer early access to products through services before we release them more broadly as kits.” 

Advancing single-cell genomics

BioSkryb Genomics was founded on the principal technology of primary template-directed amplification (PTA), which enables accurate and precise amplification of a cell’s whole genome. According to the company, this approach to genome amplification allows researchers to be confident in their single-cell and low-input genomic studies due to the completeness and uniformity of the amplification. 

“From the start, our focus at BioSkryb Genomics has been to empower researchers with the most accurate and precise look at the single-cell genome,” said Pisharody. “This naturally translates to researchers exploring mutations and mutational signatures that describe how tumors evolve or define how cells respond to therapies. ResolveSEQ MRD is simply the next step in that vision, where we focus on enabling researchers to study a specific rare population of cells that has been difficult to examine.” 

Pisharody says that BioSkryb has greatly benefited from its academic and industry partnerships in North Carolina. Early collaborations with Duke University researchers provided key evidence of the potential of single-cell approaches in breast cancer and ductal carcinoma in situ research. 

BioSkryb has also participated in the North Carolina Biotechnology Center’s NextGen Sequencing Intellectual Exchange Group for over three years, regularly presenting research and engaging with academics and industry professionals. The company also takes advantage of symposia, networking events and vendor roadshows hosted at NCBiotech, finding significant value in these opportunities for collaboration and knowledge exchange.

See our previous coverage of BioSkryb:

BioSkryb Joins Genome Editing Consortium to Shape Standards | North Carolina Biotechnology Center – October 2023

BioSkryb Lands Deal to Expand Distribution of Genomic Technology in Europe | North Carolina Biotechnology Center - August 2023

BioSkryb Licenses Tech to Improve IVF Embryo Testing | North Carolina Biotechnology Center – October 2022