Firm gained exclusive license in this area to develop research and diagnostic products.
Xenomics exclusively licensed to Sequenom its patents for the development of prenatal research and diagnostic products based on its transrenal DNA/RNA (Tr-DNA/RNA) technology. The agreement provides for an upfront payment, equity participation, and royalties on sales of licensed products.
Xenomics previoulsy reported that fragments of DNA from normal cell death cross the kidney barrier and can be detected in urine. “This license offers Sequenom the potential for a broader approach to prenatal diagnostics by using fetal nucleic acids found in easily-obtained maternal urine samples,” explains Samuil Umansky, Ph.D., CSO and cofounder of Xenomics.
The deal represents the Xenomics’ first license for applications of its platform technology. In addition to prenatal diagnostics, Xenomics has patent rights covering the fields of infectious diseases, tumor detection, and transplantation. The arrangement with Sequenom does not cover Xenomics’ current test for fetal gender determination based on the detection of Y chromosome.
