3 March 2015 - - US-based sequencing in translational research software specialist ArcherDX has launched new versions of its Archer Suite of software programs, consisting of Analysis 3.1, Assay Designer 2.0 and Quiver 1.0.2, the company said on Tuesday. According to the company, the bioinformatics platform, Archer Analysis 3.1, now supports automated sequence analysis as soon as sequencing completes, improving turnaround time and enabling researchers to accurately call known or novel genomic alterations even faster than before. A web-based portal where customers design gene fusion assays, Archer Assay Designer 2.0 now enables the creation of multiplex gene fusion assays by modifying existing, optimized catalog panels, the company said. Archer fusion assays are targeted next-generation sequencing assays that utilize proprietary Anchored Multiplex PCR enrichment chemistry. The Archer Quiver database of known gene fusions has been updated with the latest information from public databases including COSMIC, ChimerDB and PubMed, among others. Quiver supports both Analysis 3.1 and Assay Designer 2.0 and ensures that researchers will have the most up-to-date information on gene alterations and their role in cancer. ArcherDX is addressing the bottlenecks associated with using next-generation sequencing in translational research with a robust platform for targeted sequencing applications. Combining Anchored Multiplexed PCR and easy-to-use, lyophilized reagents, our technology generates a highly enriched library of gene targets of interest for downstream genomic sequencing. Complemented by the Archer Suite of bioinformatics software and readily accessible reports, our technology enables dramatic enhancement in mutation detection speed as well as complex mutation identification and discovery. ArcherDX has launched FusionPlex panels for ALK, RET and ROS1; FGFR; NTRK; and fusions associated with hematological malignancies and sarcomas. ArcherDX is headquartered in Boulder, Colo., and maintains manufacturing operations in Beverly, Mass.