SomaLogic, Novartis enter multi-year research agreement

Powerful proteomic technology to be applied to biomarker discovery, target discovery and validation, and companion diagnostics

SomaLogic, Inc., announced today that it has entered into a multi-year research agreement with Novartis to use its unique proprietary proteomics technology to accelerate Novartis' drug discovery and development efforts.

"We are excited by this opportunity to work with Novartis' world-class researchers to help them define robust biomarkers, validate novel drug targets, and even develop companion clinical diagnostics," said Larry Gold, CEO of SomaLogic. "We believe that our technology is uniquely able to address the significant drug discovery and development challenges currently faced by biopharmaceutical companies."

Terms of the agreement were not disclosed.

SomaLogic's proprietary proteomic platform is built on two decades of painstaking work to develop an entirely new generation of specific protein-binding reagents that would break open protein biomarker discovery and development in order to drive new diagnostic and therapeutic opportunities. At the heart of SomaLogic's technology are "SOMAmers" (Slow-Offrate Modified Aptamers), an entirely novel class of protein-binding reagents. SOMAmers offer a uniquely powerful combination of specific binding to individual proteins and facile nucleic acid-based quantification, allowing accurate detection and measurement of literally thousands of proteins over a vast range of concentrations in just a few drops of blood or other tissues.