News
13-Jan-2009 - Evogen and LGC license high sensitivity
novel HyBeacons® PCR probe technology
Combining LGC's HyBeacons® technology with Evogen's
platform and technologies offers exciting opportunities in
molecular diagnostics
Evogen Inc., a global molecular diagnostics company, and LGC, an
international science-based company and recognised provider of
laboratory services and measurement standards, announced today that
they have signed a worldwide license agreement of LGC’s
HyBeacons® PCR probe chemistry technology to Evogen to
augment the recently launched rapid molecular diagnostics and
detection platform, including the flagship instrument, the
EvoCycler™ HD12. This license gives Evogen exclusive and
sub-licensable rights to the HyBeacons technology within its key
market areas.
“The addition of LGC’s HyBeacons technology
to the EvoCycler platform substantially increases the performance
of the assays that we will be providing to the clinical,
environmental and biodefense markets,” said Sean Reineke,
Evogen’s President and CEO. “Evogen’s highly affordable
platform, which provides rapid, information-rich results, will now
additionally supply increased sensitivity, robustness and
reliability. Assay development will be enhanced and
accelerated with the addition of the HyBeacons technology, putting
the entire platform at the forefront of the molecular diagnostics
field across several markets. Offering affordability, rapid
results, and now more enhanced performance, the EvoCycler HD12
brings personal, intelligent molecular diagnostics into all
settings.”
“The potential opportunities created by
combining our cutting-edge HyBeacons
technology with the Evogen platform and technologies are
extremely exciting”, said John McQuillian, LGC’s Director of
Life & Food Sciences. “This combination will bring
our probe chemistry into many more laboratories and point-of-use
locations due to its robustness and affordability. We
anticipate that the HyBeacons assay menu will expand quickly in the
near future through the joint efforts of Evogen, LGC and our
expanding network of partnerships.”
HyBeacons probes are short fluorescently
labelled DNA sequences that can be designed to detect sections of
DNA sequence with a genetic variation. The central location
of the fluorescent molecule within the probe has considerable
advantages over probes that have signalling chemistry at the end of
the DNA probe. LGC developed HyBeacons probes in response to
forensic and medical requirements to identify key genetic
differences between individuals, or to distinguish micro-organisms.
The probes have unique characteristics that make them suitable for
very rapid diagnostic and point-of-care applications.
HyBeacons assays have been designed for use in medical genetic as
well as infectious diagnostic testing.
Evogen’s flagship instrument, the EvoCycler HD12, is Evogen’s
first commercial entry into the molecular diagnostics market and
will be followed by instruments with equal performance and
affordability tailored to meet a range of throughput
requirements. The product line is focused on customer needs
for customisation and flexibility.
The EvoCycler HD12 is an innovative instrument that combines
ultra-rapid amplification together with detection within a single
integrated platform. Designed for clinical, research, environmental
and biodefense applications, the EvoCycler HD12 can process 12
samples in less than 30 minutes. The operator-intuitive instrument
software automates key tasks, from selection of the most
appropriate primers and thermal cycling conditions through to
auto-calling of results.
Additionally, Evogen will be offering an expanding menu of
molecular diagnostics tests for clinical, biodefense and
environmental applications utilising HyBeacons chemistry.
Along with test kits and instruments, future product offerings will
include peripherals that will enable the streamlining of the
testing process in a variety of complex settings.
About Evogen
Evogen Inc. is the culmination of the merger of two leading
independent companies bringing together technologies to meet the
ever-evolving needs of the molecular detection and diagnostics
industry. Evogen Ltd., a UK molecular diagnostics company and
Sceptor Industries, Inc., a US aerosol collection systems company
merged to form an entity uniquely positioned to provide accurate,
rapid and affordable solutions globally for molecular detection and
diagnostics across multiple markets including research, clinical,
biodefense, environmental and animal health. Evogen Inc. is
globally positioned with offices in Kansas City, MO., White Marsh,
MD and Bath, UK.
Notes to Editors