French devicemaker Nicox's U.S. subsidiary has expanded U.S. access to Sequenom Laboratories' RetnaGene portfolio of laboratory-developed genetic tests.

Nicox was granted exclusive North American promotion and marketing rights for the RetnaGene tests in January. San Diego-based Sequenom provides the sample collection materials and performs the testing at an agreed upon price, while also providing existing clinical and commercial expertise, Nicox says.

Nicox has strengthened its specialist sales force to support expanded access of the RetnaGene portfolio, which includes RetnaGene AMD and RetnaGene LR — genetic tests used to determine an individual's risk for advanced age-related macular degeneration.

A leading cause of blindness in the U.S., AMD is estimated to affect over 15 million Americans, with 10 percent to 15 percent suffering from an advanced form of the disease, Nicox says.

The RetnaGene AMD test assesses the risk for wet AMD within two, five and 10 years in patients 55 and older with early or intermediate dry AMD. It also evaluates the lifetime risk of advanced AMD (wet or dry) in patients 55 and older who have not been diagnosed with the disease, according to the company. — Kellen Owings

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