BC Platforms Announces Collaborations to Advance Research in Multiple Sclerosis

BOSTON and BASEL, Switzerland, October 16, 2017 /PRNewswire/ --

BC Platforms, a world leader in genomic data management and analysis solutions, today announces that Biogen and the Accelerated Cure Project (ACP) will each be using its technology solutions and research platform, including its recently launched BCRQUEST.COM, to better understand the genetic basis of multiple sclerosis (MS) and accelerate research into its causes and mechanisms. Microsoft will provide the cloud infrastructure for indexing and accessing the information globally through the Microsoft Azure cloud platform.

Biogen, ACP, and Microsoft are all members of the Open Biobank Research Enhancement Alliance (OBREA), formed by BC Platforms to connect biobanks, technology enablers, researchers and industry. Biogen and ACP will use BCRQUEST.COM to enable analysis of combined genomic and clinical data and streamline collaboration between biobanks and MS researchers. BC Platforms' vision is to build the world's leading analytics resource for healthcare and industry by 2020, providing access to diverse genomic and clinical data from more than 5 million people.

Karol Estrada, (Biogen, Assoc. Director, Statistical Genetics & Genetic Epidemiology), commented, "Hundreds of genetic variants have been associated with MS, but their functional relevance is still unclear. We still have considerable work to do to understand how genetic variations influence susceptibility to MS, the timing of symptom onset, disease progression, and treatment response. By combining Biogen's expertise in neurological diseases with advanced cloud and genomic data management and analytic capabilities, we can improve our knowledge of how genetic variations impact disease pathophysiology."

ACP is a patient-founded national non-profit organization dedicated to accelerating research efforts to improve diagnosis, to optimize treatment and to advance cures for MS. ACP will be using BC Platform's solutions to manage and grow its MS data repository, research programs, and research networks. ACP has a large-scale collection of detailed clinical and phenotype data from individuals with MS, along with a diverse collection of genomic and other research data, generated by scientists using ACP'S repository samples. Curation of these data in BCRQUEST.COM will allow this valuable resource to be made available to researchers around the globe on an efficient and tractable platform.

Robert N McBurney, CEO of the Accelerated Cure Project, said "MS affects at least 2.3 million people worldwide. BC Platforms' technology provides an efficient way to manage the growth of our data repository, increases its visibility to the research community, and offers a simple way for researchers to collaborate and test hypotheses, especially those involving genetic data. As a result of this relationship with BC Platforms, ACP can have an even bigger impact in driving research that will improve the health, healthcare and quality of life of people affected by MS."

Tero Silvola, CEO of BC Platforms, commented; "We are pleased that our data management and analytics platform is being used to better understand a disabling and unpredictable disease such as multiple sclerosis, the incidence of which has been increasing in recent years. Access to large scale datasets with both genetic and clinical data will enable researchers to identify and interpret genetic variations and support insights for preventing and treating MS."

Geralyn Miller, Director, Microsoft Genomics, said; "We are proud to provide the Microsoft Azure cloud platform for the analysis of extensive amounts of genomic and clinical data in order to break new ground for MS, a complex, debilitating disease."

About BC Platforms

BC Platforms is a world leader in providing powerful genomic data management and analysis solutions. Our high performing genomic data management platform enables flexible data integration, secure analysis and interpretation of molecular and clinical information. BC Platforms' vision is to revolutionize decision making in drug development to bring clinical benefits to patients. Founded in 1997 from an MIT Whitehead project spinoff, the Company has a strong scientific heritage underpinned by 20 years of working in close collaboration with a network of leading researchers, developers, manufacturers and vendors. BC Platforms has global operations with its headquarters in Basel, Switzerland, research and development in Helsinki, Finland, and sales and marketing in London, Boston, and Vancouver. For more information, please visit www.bcplatforms.com or follow us on Twitter @BCPlatforms.

About Biogen
Through cutting-edge science and medicine, Biogen discovers, develops and delivers worldwide innovative therapies for people living with serious neurological and neurodegenerative diseases. Founded in 1978, Biogen is a pioneer in biotechnology, and today the company has the leading portfolio of medicines to treat multiple sclerosis; has introduced the first and only approved treatment for spinal muscular atrophy; and is at the forefront of neurology research for conditions including Alzheimer's disease, Parkinson's disease and amyotrophic lateral sclerosis. Biogen also manufactures and commercializes biosimilars of advanced biologics. For more information, please visit www.biogen.com. Follow us on social media - Twitter, LinkedIn, Facebook, YouTube.

About Accelerated Cure Project 

Accelerated Cure Project (ACP) is a nonprofit organization whose mission is to accelerate research efforts to improve diagnosis, to optimize treatment and to cure MS. ACP believes that research is the only way to greatly improve the outlook for people with MS. The organization promotes scientific collaboration and accelerates research by rapidly and cost-effectively providing researchers with data and biospecimens they need to explore novel research ideas that can lead to better diagnoses, to new treatments and to cures for people with MS. Its resources have supported more than 100 research studies worldwide that have generated more than 1 trillion returned data points for collaborative data mining and disease modeling. To learn more about the focus, activities, and impact of ACP, please visit http://www.acceleratedcure.org.

Media contacts:

For more information, please contact:
BC Platforms
Tero Silvola, CEO
tel. +358-40-590-5733
Email: tero.silvola@bcplatforms.com

Katja Stout, Pure Communications
Tel: +44-7789435990
Email: kstout@purecommunications.com