Nanogen, Inc., developer of molecular and rapid diagnostic products, announced today that it has expanded its partnership with HandyLab, Inc. by signing a licensing and supply agreement for use of the company's proprietary Minor Groove Binder (MGB) Probe technology and synthetic nucleic acid chemistries, including dyes and quenchers, for use in in vitro diagnostic testing.
Under the licensing agreement, HandyLab receives a non-exclusive license to market, sell and distribute PCR test kits utilizing Nanogen's patented technology for use on HandyLab's Jaguar System and other HandyLab systems. Terms of the agreement include an upfront license fee and a commitment to supply HandyLab with Nanogen's proprietary PCR products.
“Our proprietary MGB technology continues to be the cornerstone for many real-time PCR assays in the rapidly expanding molecular diagnostics market,” said David Ludvigson, Nanogen's President and Chief Operating Officer. “HandyLab will use our PCR products together with their automated testing platform to provide a complete testing solution for molecular laboratories.”
“HandyLab is excited to pair our novel Jaguar automated nucleic acid test system with Nanogen's proven MGB chemistry technology,” said Jeff Williams, President and Chief Executive Officer of HandyLab. “This agreement positions us as a fully integrated company with a unique solution for the molecular diagnostic market.”
This licensing agreement marks the expansion of an already established partnership. In 2008, the U.S. Centers for Disease Control and Prevention (CDC) awarded a $10.4 million, two-year contract to Nanogen for the development of a multi-analyte molecular diagnostic assay for Influenza. The Influenza test is being developed for use with the HandyLab microfluidic real-time PCR Raider instrument.
Nanogen's MGB technology is licensed broadly in various fields and is now an integral component in thousands of PCR probe products. Nanogen has more than 35 reagent and kit products that are sold for clinical diagnostic use under the MGB Alert and Q-PCR Alert brands.