SAN DIEGO, Feb. 26 /PRNewswire-FirstCall/ -- Nanogen, Inc. (Nasdaq: NGEN - news) today announced it has recently installed a NanoChip® Molecular Biology Workstation at Associated Regional and University Pathologists (ARUP) Laboratories, a full-service reference laboratory owned by the University of Utah, to develop novel gene-based assays. Under this Development Site Agreement entered into in December, Nanogen has provided one of its NanoChip® Molecular Biology Workstations to ARUP in exchange for certain commercialization rights to assays developed by ARUP under the collaboration. The collaboration may eventually lead to the development of molecular diagnostic test protocols to be performed on the NanoChip® Cartridge and the NanoChip® Molecular Biology Workstation.
``We are very excited to be working with ARUP, a recognized leader in esoteric testing,'' said Randy White, Chief Executive Officer of Nanogen. ``Their commitment to developing novel gene-based assays under our Development Site Agreement may provide an important source of new content for our cartridges and may play a vital role in expanding our menu of customer applications.''
``This Agreement is representative of our view that molecular diagnostics is an emerging, untapped market within esoteric testing, and by partnering with Nanogen we now have access to one of the leading molecular analysis technologies,'' said Ronald L. Weiss, M.D., Senior Vice President of ARUP. ``With this Agreement we have the opportunity to closely evaluate the NanoChip® System as a flexible, universal platform that may be able to develop, automate, and simplify the process of conducting often-complex gene-based assays.''
Nanogen's Development Site Program was established to actively collaborate with selected customers in strategically important market segments (including clinical research, the research divisions of reference diagnostic laboratories and genomics, pharmaceutical, biotechnology and agrochemical companies) in their development of assays on the Nanogen platform. Under these Agreements, collaborating companies and institutions provide expertise and/or intellectual property in exchange for preferential access to Nanogen's technology. After the conclusion of the program, the collaborating institutions may purchase the NanoChip® Molecular Biology Workstation and NanoChip® Cartridges for use in their operations.
ARUP Laboratories
ARUP Laboratories, based in Salt Lake City, Utah, was formed in 1984 as an independent, full-service reference laboratory by the Department of Pathology at the University of Utah Health Sciences Center (UUHSC). ARUP's market focus is to perform esoteric testing that supplements the testing available in local communities. ARUP does not compete with its clients, and thus, does not market to physician offices directly. ARUP offers a comprehensive test menu of more than 2,000 tests and test combinations. Quality, service, and technological advancement are key areas of emphasis. ARUP Laboratories and its more than 1300 employees dedicate themselves to assisting clients with cost-effective testing through continuity of care, utilization management, and outcomes management. For more information please visit ARUP's web site at www.aruplab.com |
