QIAGEN and BioHelix Enter Into Licensing Agreement

Helicase-dependent isothermal DNA amplification system provides new assay technology capabilities for QIAGEN's assay automation platforms

05-May-2008

QIAGEN and privately held BioHelix have announced that they have entered into a non-exclusive worldwide license and supply agreement for BioHelix's proprietary Helicase Dependent Amplification technology (HDA). HDA is a versatile assay technology to detect and analyze biological target molecules such as DNA and RNA by amplifying target specific genetic information with the highest level of sensitivity and specificity. Financial terms were not disclosed.

Unlike conventional amplification technologies such as the polymerase chain reaction (PCR), which requires thermocycling, HDA works at a constant temperature, eliminating the need for complex and costly instrumentation. In addition HDA technology offers a simple reaction workflow and a user-friendly assay design process. Two primers are used to flank the DNA fragment to be amplified, thereby allowing simple and rapid development of new singleplex and/or multiplex assays for use in research, pharmaceutical development, applied markets or molecular diagnostics.

Furthermore, HDA has shown potential for the development of simple, portable DNA diagnostic devices to be used in the field or at the point-of-care..

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Topic world Diagnostics

Diagnostics is at the heart of modern medicine and forms a crucial interface between research and patient care in the biotech and pharmaceutical industries. It not only enables early detection and monitoring of disease, but also plays a central role in individualized medicine by enabling targeted therapies based on an individual's genetic and molecular signature.

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Topic world Diagnostics

Topic world Diagnostics

Diagnostics is at the heart of modern medicine and forms a crucial interface between research and patient care in the biotech and pharmaceutical industries. It not only enables early detection and monitoring of disease, but also plays a central role in individualized medicine by enabling targeted therapies based on an individual's genetic and molecular signature.