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Sequenom Announces Exclusive Licensing Agreement with Genomic Nanosystems for Digital PCR Technologies and Methods Patents

24 Sep 2008 - Sequenom, Inc. announced that it has secured exclusive rights to fundamental patent rights for digital PCR technologies and methods through a licensing agreement with Genomic Nanosystems, LLC, a wholly owned subsidiary of the Cytonix Corporation. The exclusively licensed rights include United States Patent Nos. 6,143,496 and 6,391,559 and pending applications. The license provides Sequenom with the exclusive right to use digital PCR methods on any platform for noninvasive prenatal diagnostics and analysis for any sample (for example, fetal cells, amniocentesis fluids, plasma, urine, etc.). Sequenom also secured the exclusive right to use digital PCR methods in conjunction with mass spectrometry for any commercial, diagnostic or research purpose, excluding second generation sequencing. Financial terms were not disclosed.
 
"Sequenom's extensive intellectual property position in noninvasive prenatal diagnostic testing for the assessment of fetal Down syndrome and other fetal genetic conditions is enhanced by this partnership, enabling us to develop even more highly sensitive tests on our MassARRAY(R) system, as well as other platforms of our choice in our fields of use," said Harry Stylli, Ph.D., President and Chief Executive Officer of Sequenom. "We are particularly pleased to be chosen as an exclusive partner by Genomic Nanosystems. These exclusive rights, as well as the licensing agreement we announced last week, further strengthen the proprietary foundation upon which we will continue product development and commercialization in our SEQureDx(TM) diagnostics business. Furthermore, Sequenom intends to develop a MassARRAY platform-based digital PCR solution for our genomic analysis business and for cancer research and diagnostics."