Orion Genomics: The Second Code Company
Orion Genomics is an award-winning biotechnology company headquartered in St. Louis, Missouri, United States, that focuses on leveraging its expertise in genomics and epigenetics to solve complex problems in both human health and agriculture. The company, founded in 1998, operates under the philosophy of "The Second Code Company," emphasizing its proprietary work on DNA methylation, which is often referred to as the epigenetic code.
The operations of Orion Genomics are structured across three primary divisions: Genomics Research and Services, Clinical Research and Services, and a globally focused agricultural subsidiary, Orion Biosains. Through these divisions, the company provides genomics research and clinical laboratory services to a diverse global clientele, including biotechnology firms, pharmaceutical and diagnostics companies, agricultural and seed companies, and government agencies.
Continue…Core Technology and Human Health Focus
Orion Genomics??? principal focus within human health is on the development of epigenetic research tools and molecular diagnostic products for the field of personalized medicine. The company has established a foundation of intellectual property, holding over 100 patents and patents pending, which underpins its innovative approach to genetic and epigenetic technologies.
Proprietary Technologies:
* MethylScopeŽ: A proprietary technology utilized for precisely mapping DNA methylation across entire genomes.
* MethylScreen???: A core technology for finding and interpreting normal and abnormal epigenetic patterns of DNA methylation. This technology has been licensed to major industry partners, such as Qiagen, for use in their EpiTect Methyl qPCR array kits for epigenetics studies and DNA methylation profiling.
Products and Services in Diagnostics:
The company is actively developing a pipeline of oncology diagnostic products aimed at cancer screening and therapy selection.
* Lead Product Development: A primary product in development is a simple, non-invasive blood-based test designed to identify individuals at an elevated risk for colorectal cancer.
* Biomarker Discovery: Orion Genomics conducts active biomarker discovery programs to identify epigenetic markers. These biomarkers are then employed in the development of novel molecular diagnostic tests to detect diseases such as breast, lung, ovarian, and colorectal cancers. Furthermore, the company develops biomarkers to aid in the selection of the most effective therapies for individual patients.
Agricultural Bioscience through Orion Biosains
Orion Genomics extends its genomic expertise to the agricultural sector through its wholly-owned subsidiary, Orion Biosains, which has its global headquarters located in Kuala Lumpur, Malaysia. Orion Biosains' mission is to innovate agriculture through bioscience, primarily by supporting the oil palm industry in Southeast Asia and planning for global expansion.
This subsidiary commercializes joint discoveries made in collaboration with the Malaysian Palm Oil Board (MPOB), offering technical expertise, flexible business solutions, and strategic partnerships to oil palm seed producers and growers. Their services are branded under the SureSawit??? Services suite, which provides high-throughput genomic screening tools.
Key Agricultural Products and Services (SureSawit??? Services):
* SureSawit??? SHELL Test / Gel Kit: This service represents the first commercially available genotyping test for the oil palm industry. The core genetic discovery, the SHELL gene, is responsible for the shell thickness trait in oil palm fruit. The test allows seed producers and growers to precisely determine the fruit form???dura, tenera, or pisifera???of a palm from the seedling stage. This is critical for improving yields, as the hybrid tenera palms produce significantly more oil (up to 30%) than dura palms, allowing for the selective planting of only the highest-yielding materials.
* SureSawit??? KARMA Test: This molecular diagnostic test is a product of Orion???s epigenetic technology, applying the company???s core expertise to agriculture. The test enables the validation of somaclonal variants (known as 'mantled' palms) at the nursery stage. This devastating, low-yielding phenotype is caused by an epigenetic state referred to as Bad Karma, which involves the hypomethylation of the Karma transposon. By detecting this epigenetic defect early, growers can cull low-performing palms and cultivate only high-performing clones ("Good Karma"), which is projected to increase oil productivity by 20 to 30 percent on existing land, enhancing sustainability. The service is facilitated by the SureSawit Sample Collection Kit, which includes a patented leaf punch and tree tag for accurate sample and tree tracking.
* SureSawit??? VIR Test: This is another high-throughput service listed as part of the SureSawit suite, focusing on comprehensive screenings of oil palm seedlings, nursery palms, or field-planted palms.
* Service Portal: The subsidiary offers a customer interface for ordering services, receiving the SureSawit Sample Collection Kit, and retrieving genotyping data and reports.
In summary, Orion Genomics operates at the intersection of human health and global agriculture, leveraging its proprietary epigenetic and genomic technologies???MethylScopeŽ and MethylScreen??????to develop cancer diagnostics and high-yield, sustainability-focused screening tools for the oil palm industry.
