Multiplex Assays: Technologies, Applications, and Markets examines the evolution of multiplex assay technologies and evaluates the competitive picture, growth trends, and deal-making activities in this dynamic and rapidly growing market.

This report provides insightful and innovative business strategies and market acumen for companies striving to capitalize on the many evolving opportunities in this profitable but challenging business sector. The following critical areas are covered in detail to present a complete competitive view of the market:

• Provides estimates and projections for the research and diagnostics segments, together with a tabulation and analysis of recent deal activity in the field.
• Evaluates applications, relevant products, and drivers and barriers to adoption in the pharmaceutical research and diagnostic business sectors.
• Describes and compares the various technologies available for multiplex analysis of gene expression, protein expression, and single nucleotide polymorphisms (SNPs) or mutations using SWOT (comparative strengths, weaknesses, opportunities, and threats) analysis.
• Profiles companies that serve this market.
• Presents interviews with eight industry experts.

The advent of DNA microarrays has introduced high-level multiplexing to the research market and triggered a shift in the prevailing research paradigm from a hypothesis-driven to a more discovery-based orientation. Subsequent extension of high-level multiplexing to proteins has stimulated intense focus on the discovery of new biomarkers, many of which contain multiple analytes and are subject to multiplex analysis.

Growth of “multiplex thinking” in the research community is driving the market. Worldwide revenues for the multiplex assay market for 2004 are estimated to be approximately $250 million, a figure that is projected to nearly double by 2008. Levels of revenue growth beyond this 2008 horizon depend strongly on how successful manufacturers can be in demonstrating favorable cost-benefit performance for pharmacogenetic assays for drug response analysis and prediction and for cancer-related multiplex assays. A number of the latter are under intensive investigation in validation studies, and a clearer picture of their ultimate value can be expected to emerge in the next 2 years.

About the Author

Ken Rubenstein, PhD, CEO of the Lion Consulting Group, received a doctorate in chemistry from the University of Wisconsin and served two years as a post-doc in molecular biology at the University of Pennsylvania School of Medicine. During 12 years with Syntex Corporation, he served at levels up to Vice President, inventing a major new diagnostic technology, leading development of more than 20 products, and leading strategic planning efforts. Dr. Rubenstein formed the Lion Consulting Group in 1983 with the goal of bringing clarity to decision-makers
dealing with cutting-edge biotechnology advances. In addition to consulting, he is the author of more than 30 industry analysis and market analysis reports published by Cambridge Healthtech, D&MD Publications, and others. He serves on the scientific advisory boards of several companies and has spoken at major conferences.