Micronics inks license agreement with Biosearch Technologies

Oct 28 2009

Micronics, Inc., a leading developer of point-of-care molecular diagnostic products, announced today that it has entered into a license agreement with Biosearch Technologies, Inc. (Biosearch) for the right to make, have made, use and sell Micronics’ products that incorporate Biosearch’s proprietary fluorophores and quencher dyes for nucleic acid assays. Under the terms of the worldwide license, Biosearch has granted Micronics a royalty-free use of certain of its chemistries for inclusion in Micronics’ infectious disease tests for sale in underdeveloped countries.

Micronics is advancing a family of near patient, point-of-care molecular tests for infectious disease diagnosis and forensic testing. These tests employ Micronics’ microfluidics technologies, which enable substantial reductions in both the volume of a sample taken from a patient and the reagents required to perform a nucleic acid amplification assay. Micronics is advancing a portfolio of tests that are responsive to unmet needs in the infections disease sector worldwide, such as Shiga toxin producing E.coli, malaria and respiratory disease panels.

Biosearch’s proprietary line of fluorophores and quenchers, including the Black Hole Quencher (BHQ), CAL Fluor, and Quasar dye technologies, will be used by Micronics in conjunction with the molecular beacons probe technology that Micronics licensed from PHRI Properties. The BHQ dyes are the quenchers of choice for fluorescence-quenched probe applications in many nucleic acid assay testing methods. Most recently, the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention selected a BHQ dye as the core detection technology for use in the Influenza H1N1 (Swine Flu) real-time PCR test for distribution among public health and other qualified labs worldwide.

By incorporating molecular beacons with Biosearch fluorophores and BHQ dyes, Micronics’ test cartridges can perform either single or multiplex pathogen detection. Each test cartridge will contain all of the required test reagents for ease of use and non-refrigerated storage. The cartridge is processed by a lightweight, low-cost, battery or mains-powered instrument with software connectivity. Micronics’ tests are designed to provide a result in under thirty minutes, directly from sample acquisition in the sealed disposable test cartridge.