BIOTECON Diagnostics signs license agreement with Applera Corporation

Foster City, Potsdam, May, 2008 Applera and BIOTECON Diagnostics (BCD) announce a non-exclusive, worldwide license agreement relating to PCR technology for Food Testing Applications and Genetically-Modified Organism (GMO) Testing Applications: BIOTECON Diagnostics has acquired important rights with the PCR licence. It enables the company to strengthen its position as an innovative leader in the field of food molecular diagnostics and, together with the food industry, provide even greater food safety.

In the future BIOTECON Diagnostics is entitled to produce and market PCR kits for food safety testing worldwide under its own name. The PCR test systems will be applicable to a broad range of real-time PCR instruments. The PCR technology forms the basis for the development of diagnostic kits that can detect and characterise single or multiple pathogens in food products and related raw material samples.

The benefits of Real – Time PCR are speed and specificity. Combined with BCD´s probe based detections systems, for which BCD also has proprietary rights, highly innovative user friendly test systems which are ready to use will be provided to the market. The major areas of PCR applications include the determination of pathogenic organisms, spoilage microorganisms and GMO with the BCD foodproof products. The integration of Real time PCR Technology into BCD´s foodproof detection systems makes it possible to identify the most relevant food spoiling microorganisms within a few hours.

BIOTECON Diagnostics GmbH with it’s headquarter in Potsdam / Berlin (Germany) has been a competent partner for molecular biological and microbiological issues for more than ten years. Its focus is the development, production and marketing of PCR-based rapid detection systems. BIOTECON Diagnostics offers solutions for the food and beverages industry as well as for pharmaceutical and cosmetic manufacturers. For more information about BIOTECON Diagnostics PCR detection kits, please visit http://www.bc-diagnostics.com.

Applera Corporation consists of two operating groups. Applied Biosystems serves the life science industry and research community by developing and marketing instrument-based systems, consumables, software, and services. Customers use these tools to analyze nucleic acids (DNA and RNA), small molecules, and proteins to make scientific discoveries and develop new pharmaceuticals. Applied Biosystems’ products also serve the needs of some markets outside of life science research, which we refer to as “applied markets,” such as the fields of: human identity testing (forensic and paternity testing); biosecurity, which refers to products needed in response to the threat of biological terrorism and other malicious, accidental, and natural biological dangers; and quality and safety testing, such as testing required for food and pharmaceutical manufacturing. Applied Biosystems is headquartered in Foster City, CA, and reported sales of approximately $2.1 billion during fiscal 2007. Information about Applied Biosystems is available at http://www.appliedbiosystems.com.

All information in this press release is as of the date of the release, and Applera and BIOTECON Diagnostics do not undertake any duty to update this information unless required by law.

Contact:
Katrin Schwensow
Marketing
Phone +49 (0) 331 2300-245
Fax +49 (0) 331 2300-250
kschwensow@bc-diagnostics.com

BIOTECON Diagnostics
Hermannswerder 17
14473 Potsdam – Germany
Phone +49 (0) 331 2300-200
Fax +49 (0) 331 2300-299
E-mail bcd@bc-diagnostics.com
www.bc-diagnostics.com

BIOTECON Diagnostics GmbH with it’s headquarter in Potsdam / Berlin (Germany) has been a competent partner for molecular biological and microbiological issues for more than ten years. Its focus is the development, production and marketing of PCR-based rapid detection systems. BIOTECON Diagnostics offers solutions for the food and beverages industry as well as for pharmaceutical and cosmetic manufacturers. For more information about BIOTECON Diagnostics PCR detection kits, please visit http://www.bc-diagnostics.com.

This release was published on openPR.