New Year accolade for DxS

Thursday 17th January, 2008

DxS one of the northwest’s internationally-recognised biotechnology firms has a lot to celebrate in 2008. Based at the University of Manchester Incubator Company facilities DxS has not only grown its staff by 28% inside a year and expanded its laboratory facilities, the company received a prestigious award at the recent BioNow 2007 awards evening.

Dr Nicola Thelwell and her product development team were recognised in BioNow’s Young BioTechnologist of the Year award sponsored by Novartis. Dr Thelwell’s team developed a diagnostic to help identify DNA changes – mutations – in the K-RAS gene. This gene is found in a range of cancers and the presence of these mutations is linked to a patients’ response to some cancer treatments.

Nicky is keen that her entire team share the award’s glory! Commenting on the award Nicky says “I am delighted to have had the opportunity to work on such an interesting and scientifically challenging product that will provide a valuable health benefit to many cancer patients. I want to thank the DxS product development team that I work with, they have done a fantastic job and worked really hard over the last 12 months, their efforts are hugely appreciated and its great to have this recognised by the industry.”

DxS’s technology is superior in the field of cancer. DxS kits are highly selective and sensitive, able to detect significant mutations that are often missed by sequencing methods. No wonder then that Amgen Inc., a leading global biotechnology company chose DxS’s K-RAS kit to identify which colorectal cancer patients will respond to Amgen’s Vectibix cancer therapy.

During 2007 the company has also welcomed nine new members of staff during 2007, and expanded its laboratory facility by 33%, with plans underway for further expansion and a recruitment drive in the New Year.

Beverly Taylor, Head of Primary Production at award sponsors Novartis Vaccines, Liverpool, said that as a major biotechnology manufacturer Novartis had been proud to play a part in recognising the achievements of emerging talent within the region’s scientific community.

“Dr Thelwell was a worthy winner. She has led the development of products that are not only the best in class from a technical perspective but also meet the regulatory and clinical requirements needed to allow the introduction of personalised medicine in cancer.”

“We have been proud to watch DxS grow and take its place amongst the northwest’s ‘bio stars’”, says Martino Picardo, general manager of the University of Manchester Incubator Company (UMIC). “DxS joined UMIC as a bio start-up in 2000, with just its two founder scientists. In 2008 DxS is not only a highly successful company – but it has helped to put personalised medicine and Manchester’s BioIncubator firmly on the global biotech map!”

Martino continues: “What is really exceptional about DxS is that it provides such a great example to the region’s bio-community – an example of young entrepreneurs being supported and nurtured alongside commercial development and success.”

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For media enquiries relating to UMIC biotechnology businesses please contact Martino Picardo UMIC’s General Manager on + 44 (0) 161 606 7200 or [email protected] Back to News