ZyGEM Corp Ltd has entered into an agreement with Rubicon Genomics, Inc to incorporate ZyGEM's advanced enzymatic nucleic acid extraction technology into Rubicon's pre-analytical platform products designed to significantly improve the performance of DNA and RNA analytical instruments. The agreement, which will initially focus on diagnostic single-cell whole genome amplification kits, has the potential to be expanded to include products for broader research and diagnostic applications.

ZyGEM's technology uses a proprietary thermophilic enzyme to extract DNA from samples using a single closed-tube system. ZyGEM's approach significantly reduces the time and cost of DNA extractions while simplifying laboratory workflow, minimizing error, reducing the risk of contamination, ensuring sample integrity and facilitating extractions from trace samples. It is easily adaptable for use with virtually all off-the-shelf laboratory automation systems. The technology can be specifically formulated for use with a wide range of different sample types without the need for further purification. ZyGEM's technology has been validated for use in highly regulated applications including forensic analysis.

"ZyGEM's unique temperature-controlled DNA extraction technology provides important advantages for the analysis of DNA and RNA, and we are delighted to partner with Rubicon in our drive to make our technology widely available for diverse research and clinical applications," said Paul Kinnon, CEO of ZyGEM. "This new agreement for private-label DNA extraction products is the most recent in a series of ZyGEM collaborations for our versatile technology, and we look forward to a productive and expanding relationship with Rubicon, an emerging leader in pre-analytical amplification of clinical samples."

Rubicon will soon launch its PicoPlex kits, which integrate ZyGEM's proprietary DNA extraction technology into a novel method to amplify single genomes with unsurpassed accuracy and reproducibility. This product targets the pre-implantation genetic diagnostics and cancer diagnostics markets, which require rapid, reproducible amplification to profile patient genotypes, karyotypes and mutations. PicoPlex enables reference labs to begin qPCR, microarray or sequencing analysis less than three hours after collecting patient cells. PicoPlex is designed to be faster, more accurate and more reproducible than other methods for single cell DNA amplification.

"We believe that the growing customer base for our pre-analytical solutions for DNA and RNA analysis will benefit from access to the unique nucleic acid extraction technology developed by ZyGEM," said James Koziarz, acting president and CEO of Rubicon. "We have greatly improved the clinical performance of whole genome amplification by incorporating ZyGEM technology and other proprietary reagents into our kits, which have been shown to increase the sensitivity, specificity and robustness of most research and diagnostic analytical platforms."

Further terms of the agreement were not disclosed.

Separately, ZyGEM announced that the United States Patent Office has issued an allowance for its patent application covering the unique thermophilic enzymes that are the core component of the company's nucleic acid extraction technology, which is currently marketed in prepGEM, forensicGEM and livestockGEM kits, and also through private label agreements with a growing number of partners and collaborators. The patent is expected to issue later this year.

ZyGEM Corporation Limited is a rapidly growing biotechnology company with a range of innovative enzyme-based products and technologies based on the company's exclusive collection of microorganisms from extreme environments.

Rubicon is a pre-analytical platform company that commercializes reagents and kits to increase the analytical and clinical performance of instrument platforms including qPCR, microarrays, and next-generation sequencing.