Abbott and BioGenex Laboratories signed an agreement to distribute and market a new system that will fully automate molecular diagnostic tests that employ Abbott's proprietary Fluorescence in situ Hybridization (FISH) technology.
The system is designed to automate all of the assay steps required to perform Abbott's FISH-based tests, including the application, removal and re-application of the coverslip resulting in a completely finished slide that is ready to go directly on the microscope for review. It is expected to be introduced to the market in the near future, pending regulatory clearance.
Under the terms of the agreement, Abbott has co-exclusive rights with BioGenex to market and distribute the new system worldwide in the FISH field. Abbott and BioGenex will collaborate to further develop automated solutions for FISH applications. As part of the agreement, BioGenex has received a multi-year minimum volume commitment and an upfront payment toward future purchases of systems.
"The increasing demand for molecular testing is putting pressure on clinical laboratories to process these tests more quickly," said Edward L. Michael, president, Abbott Molecular Diagnostics, Abbott. He added, "By further automating our FISH technology, we can help our customers keep up with the workflow demands, save labour costs, further enhance test reliability and, ultimately, improve patient care."
"We are pleased that Abbott has elected to distribute our products integrated with their FISH applications worldwide. This underscores application of BioGenex technology for harnessing the power of genomics to accelerate the pace of molecular medicine," said Krishan Kalra, chairman and CEO, BioGenex.
FISH technology provides the ability to see multiple chromosomal abnormalities simultaneously in a single cell and to visually assess these genetic abnormalities in patient specimens. FISH-based tests use DNA probes labelled with coloured fluorescent tags that bind to specific gene sequences on human chromosomes. These probes can reveal amplification of gene copy number or the rearrangement of large genetic structures, two genetic abnormalities that underlie certain cancers and other medical conditions. Abbott's FISH-based tests include PathVysion, which is used to detect amplification of the HER-2 gene and as an aid in determining whether a patient is an appropriate candidate for Herceptin (trastuzumab) therapy for breast cancer, and Vysis UroVysion, for monitoring for the recurrence of bladder cancer.
BioGenex, a technology leader in molecular pathology, provides Total Solution for complete automation of cell and tissue testing. The company offers a broad range of reagents and systems to streamline and standardize cellular and molecular diagnostics.