08/09/06
Nanogen Inc and Fisher Scientific International Inc have expanded their relationship to include a research and development collaboration in molecular diagnostics. The collaboration agreement complements Fisher’s equity investment in Nanogen announced in March 2006.
Nanogen and Fisher agreed to share technology and patent rights specifically for the development, manufacture, and marketing of new molecular diagnostics products. Under the agreement, Fisher Scientific may provide up to $10 million in total during 2007 and 2008 for the research and development of infectious disease and molecular diagnostics tests that will be mutually agreed upon. The extensive knowledge, intellectual property, and capabilities of both companies will enable molecular diagnostics products to be brought to the market more quickly.
Additionally, Nanogen and Athena Diagnostics, a wholly owned subsidiary of Fisher Scientific International, have agreed to develop, manufacture, and market products based on Athena’s proprietary biomarkers for research and for in vitro diagnostic use. Athena has an extensive portfolio of unique markers in the fields of neurology and endocrinology that it has successfully incorporated into its testing service, several of which could be incorporated into assays for use on Nanogen’s microarray platform, the NanoChip®400. Nanogen likewise has access to a wide range of markers that could be used to create unique tests for the Athena Diagnostics testing service.
