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Biotech / Medical : Trickle Portfolio -- Ignore unavailable to you. Want to Upgrade?

To: dalroi who wrote (86)	6/13/2001 4:44:51 PM
From: tuck	Respond to of 1784

A little win for QGENF: >>SEATTLE, June 13 /PRNewswire/ -- QIAGEN Genomics, Inc., a wholly owned subsidiary of QIAGEN N.V. (Nasdaq: QGENF; Frankfurt/Neuer Market: QIA; Easdaq: QGEN), today announced that it has entered into a license and purchase agreement with the Life Sciences Group of Shimadzu Corporation in Japan. Under the terms of the non-exclusive agreement, QIAGEN Genomics will sell its Masscode system and license the related technology to Shimadzu for high-throughput single nucleotide polymorphism (SNP) genotyping. The agreement requires that Shimadzu purchase its SNP genotyping chemistry and instrumentation from QIAGEN Genomics for a five-year period. QIAGEN Genomics will provide Shimadzu with training and support during Shimadzu's initial year of providing SNP genotyping services to researchers in Japan. Financial terms were not disclosed. ``We are pleased to have this opportunity to work with Shimadzu given their commitment to instrumentation and genomics,'' said Karen Hedine, general manager of QIAGEN Genomics. ``SNP genotyping and the emerging application of these markers in clinical and diagnostic applications requires robust systems that offer reliable, reproducible and cost-effective solutions. Shimadzu's leadership in analytical instrumentation gives an ideal foundation from which to address the genomics marketplace in Japan.'' The Masscode system is QIAGEN Genomics' unique platform chemistry of cleavable mass spectrometry tags. It is based on a family of low molecular weight compounds that are attached to DNA molecules or proteins by a chemical linker. The linker is cleaved as the samples flow into the mass spectrometer, allowing each readily-discriminated tag to be easily detected. Masscode tags use an optimized single quadrupole mass spectrometer to detect multiple parallel measurements. The incorporation of Masscode tags with the highly quantitative single quadrupole mass spectrometer makes it possible for researchers to deeply multiplex simultaneous measurements -- enabling the detection of hundreds of samples or SNPs in mere seconds. The read out is digital, with no spectral overlap, making it a highly precise method for genomic analysis. Presently, there are thirty Masscode tags that are used routinely by system purchasers to measure 15 SNPs per well in a 96-well plate. QIAGEN Genomics has developed over 100 tags, and with the modular flexibility of the tag chemistry, coupled with the sensitivity of the single quadrupole mass spectrometer, believes that eventually 400 tags may be used. QIAGEN Genomics is a recognized leader in the use of single quadrupole mass spectrometry for genomic applications, leveraging its Masscode tags with other QIAGEN technologies for high-throughput SNP genotyping. Given the flexibility of the Masscode tags, the mass spectrometer is ideally suited today to address medium- to high-throughput genotyping detection needs, from hundreds of thousands to millions of measurements, at unparalleled cost and quality of the data. The technology continues to be successfully used by QIAGEN Genomics in what is believed to be the first ever commercial, high-throughput SNP genotyping services center. Since opening its facility in mid-1999, QIAGEN Genomics has provided well over one million genotype results to clients in pharma, agriculture, biotech, academic and government labs worldwide. The Japanese biotech market is expected to expand rapidly in the very near future. In the area of genomic analysis, in particular, SNP identification is expected to be a key technology that contributes to the realization of tailor-made therapies, including creation of individually customized medicines, by specifying the relationship between SNPs and the effect of medicine. Shimadzu is utilizing its core competence to actively accelerate development of biotechnology as its main next-generation business. Biotechnology business mainly involves ``hardware,'' represented by DNA sequencers and protein sequencers, ``reagents'' for use in genetic engineering, and ``analysis services'' for DNA and proteins. ``Undoubtedly, the Masscode system will give a much sharper edge to Shimadzu's competitiveness in providing SNP genotyping services to researchers,'' said Dr. Tetsuo Ichikawa, Shimadzu Biotech's chairman. ``Shimadzu Biotech -- which forms alliances with worldwide enterprises -- has been launched to enhance Shimadzu's strategic capabilities and forge new global development, such as this cornerstone relationship with QIAGEN Genomics.'' Shimadzu plans to expand its biotechnology business to $170 million by fiscal 2003.<< This makes sense; Shimadzu is known for their pumps and mixers in liquid chromatography front ends to mass specs. From QGENF, we may soon hear of product launches related to the Zymark and Zeptosense collaborations. Zymark revenue is not in the guidance for the year; neither is Zeptosense revenue, but it's less likely this year. These systems will use $500,000 per year in consumables. Launch timing seems right wrt pharma capex spigot being turned on in 2H01. Trickle licking it chops, hoping market weakness takes my faves down for one last reload. If so, Trickle will go 100% invested. Tired of waiting for APBI and such. Cheers, Tuck