SomaGenics Launches miR-ID® Platform and Assays for Highly Sensitive and Specific Quantification of microRNAs (miRNAs)

SANTA CRUZ, Calif., Oct. 7, 2015 /PRNewswire/ -- SomaGenics, Inc. today announced the launch of its novel miR-ID^® platform and assays for detecting miRNA using a circularization-based RT-qPCR method.  miR-ID^® is highly sensitive, uses single-dye detection, and can discriminate miRNA isoforms with single nucleotide differences at any position along the molecule.  The technology works well with all sample sources, including total RNA, cell lysates, and tissue lysates.

"The miR-ID^® miRNA detection platform is highly sensitive and provides much better sequence discrimination than leading competitors," said Brian Johnston, CEO of SomaGenics.  "By using unmodified DNA primers, single-dye detection (SYBR green), and no specialized probes miR-ID helps keep costs low and allows for the rapid development of assays for miRNAs of interest."

SomaGenics currently offers over 50 different assays covering several of the most widely studied microRNA families. These miR-ID^® assays provide unmatched discrimination between miRNA isoforms with single nucleotide differences with virtually no cross-talk between miRNAs from the same family.

For the analysis of total RNA, no enrichment for small RNAs is required: miR-ID^® works as well with total RNA as with enriched fractions.

In addition to applications to purified RNA samples, the miR-ID technology has been incorporated into SomaGenics' miR-Direct^TM technology for the direct quantification of microRNA from plasma or serum.  The Company is excited to announce that the miR-Direct/ID technology will be presented at the 11^th Annual Meeting of the Oligonucleotide Therapeutics Society,  Oct 11-14, 2015 in Leiden, the Netherlands by Anne Dallas, PhD, Principal Scientist at SomaGenics.

About SomaGenics, Inc.

SomaGenics is a privately held biotech company with offices and laboratories located in Santa Cruz, Calif.  It specializes in developing innovative technologies that focus on RNA molecules as therapeutic agents and targets as well as biomarkers. Besides miR-ID^®, the company's technology platforms include sshRNA therapeutic candidates for wound healing, the miR-Direct™ platform for sensitive direct quantification of microRNA from serum or plasma, and the RealSeq™ family of technologies for non-biased small RNA library construction for next-generation sequencing (NGS).

Contact: Brian Johnston, 831 426 7700.
Somagenics.com

SOURCE SomaGenics, Inc.