17 May 2013 - 17 May 2013 - US biotech group Transgenomic Inc (OTCMKTS:TBIO) said Thursday it had introduced a new mutation detection test, named CRC RAScan, to screen patients with metastatic colorectal cancer (mCRC) for RAS mutations (KRAS and NRAS).

The assay utilises the company's DNA mismatch-cutting enzyme SURVEYOR Nuclease, which detects nucleotide mismatches in a mixture of wild-type and mutant DNAs reflective of what is found in tumour biopsy samples.

The test was developed in partnership with US biotech group Amgen Inc (NASDAQ:AMGN) and follows the identification of RAS (KRAS and NRAS) mutations in a predefined retrospective subset analysis of a multi-centre, randomised Phase III trial.

CRC RAScan is currently available in Europe and research-only test kits will soon can be acquired in the USA.