Luminex Corporation announced the execution of a license and supply agreement with Celera Diagnostics, a joint venture between the Applied Biosystems Group, and the Celera Genomics Group of Applera Corporation.

Under the terms of the agreement, Celera Diagnostics is licensed under Luminex's patents and is granted worldwide, nonexclusive rights to develop and distribute in-vitro molecular diagnostic products based on Luminex's proprietary xMAP technology, for use on the Luminex 100 System. For these rights, Luminex will receive royalties from the commercialization of Celera Diagnostics' products based on Luminex's technology, as well as revenue from the sale of instruments and xMAP microspheres. Other terms of the agreement were not disclosed.

"We are pleased to add the xMAP bioassay platform to our portfolio of technologies for developing molecular diagnostics," said Stacey Sias, Vice President, Business Development of Celera Diagnostics. "This platform has demonstrated its potential and is gaining market acceptance."

"Celera Diagnostics is positioned to become a leader in the molecular diagnostic market," stated Randy Marfin, Vice President, Business Development of Luminex Corporation. "We believe the addition of Celera Diagnostics' future molecular tests to the growing list of commercial diagnostic assays can significantly expand the capabilities and acceptance of the Luminex xMAP technology."

Luminex's open platform xMAP system is a proprietary technology that performs up to 100 assays simultaneously on a single drop of fluid with the capability for both medium- and high-throughput assay applications. xMAP combines the use of low-cost microsphere-based assays with small lasers, advanced digital signal processors and proprietary software to offer greater speed, precision and flexibility over current bioassay technologies.