SomaLogic collaborates with deCODE to enhance human genetic analysis

Monday December 17, 2018 Tags: Boulder, SomaLogic, deCODE genetics, Stephen Williams, SOMAscan

BOULDER -- Iceland-based deCODE genetics, an Amgen subsidiary, and SomaLogic, Inc. announced a collaboration that brings together SomaLogic's expertise in human proteins with deCODE's expertise in human genetics.SomaLogic_logoUSE

The collaboration combines deCODE's rich data sets with SomaLogic's leading protein measurement capabilities to enhance the understanding of how human disease and health are mediated through proteins to influence health outcomes, the companies said.

"I am excited to see what deep proteomic analysis will add to what we already know about human health based on our study of genetics," said Kári Stefánsson, deCODE’s founder and CEO.

"SomaLogic's ability to measure thousands of proteins brings a whole new dimension to our efforts, and we look forward to seeing the results." 

Under the collaboration agreement, SomaLogic will analyze up to 40,000 deCODE samples with the proprietary SOMAscan® assay, which can rapidly measure the levels of 5,000 proteins in each sample across a wide range of concentrations. 

deCODE will use the assay data for therapeutic drug discovery and development. SomaLogic will use the assay results and related clinical information to further develop clinical applications of the SOMAscan assay in an effort to improve health management.

"This collaboration with deCODE gives us an exciting opportunity to work with one of the most highly characterized and understood datasets in the world, as well as with world-class genomic and pharmaceutical scientists," said Stephen Williams, SomaLogic’s chief medical officer.

"We are undertaking together the largest protein study ever performed — over 200 million individual protein measurements — to gain substantial new knowledge about normal and disease biology across many common and rare conditions."

Specific details of the collaboration were not disclosed.

Based in Reykjavik, deCODE is a global leader in analyzing and understanding the human genome. Using its unique expertise and population resources, deCODE has discovered genetic risk factors for dozens of common diseases.

The purpose of understanding the genetics of disease is to use that information to create new means of diagnosing, treating and preventing disease. deCODE is a wholly-owned subsidiary of Amgen.