Roche Diagnostics and Takara Bio enter into license agreement

Roche Diagnostics (SWX:RO) (SWX:ROG) (Pink Sheets: RHHBY) and Takara Bio (TSE Mothers: 4974), the Shiga (Japan)-based supplier of systems for use in life science research, announced that they have entered into a license agreement for use of the melting curve analysis technology and SYBR Green techniques in their Kits and Instruments for Real Time PCR. Under the terms of the agreement, Takara obtains from Roche a non-exclusive license for use on instruments in Japan, and a license for worldwide use in kits, in the field of research applications. Financial terms of the agreement were not disclosed.

Covered in the agreement are reagents and or methods using SYBR Green I technology and melting curve analysis for real time PCR. This valuable intellectual property portfolio has been extensively licensed by Roche in cooperation with Idaho Technology, Inc.

“By licensing the PCR technique we contribute to the further development of this technology in the life science research field,” states Manfred Baier, Head of Roche Applied Science, a business area of Roche Diagnostics.

The melting curve analysis is a technique for analysis of PCR products. After PCR, the resulting PCR product is slowly heated. Each double-stranded DNA has its own specific melting temperature (T_m), which is defined as the temperature at which 50% of the DNA becomes single stranded. By measurement of Tm, the DNA can be easily identified.