HYDERABAD, India & GAITHERSBURG, Md.–Ocimum Biosolutions, a leading integrated genomics company, based in Hyderabad, India, announced today that it is now an authorized provider for services using NuGEN Ovation® Systems for sample preparation. This partnership enables researchers in India, for the first time, to conduct gene expression profiling from a wide range of clinically relevant sample types, such as small, compromised, or formalin-fixed, paraffin-embedded (FFPE) tissues.

Anu Acharya, CEO of Ocimum Biosolutions says, “We are very happy to announce this partnership with NuGEN since we believe that this is an important step towards becoming a truly integrated, world-class genomic service provider. Our subsidiary, Gene Logic, has had a long-standing and fruitful relationship with NuGEN for many years to support our customers’ clinical studies in the drug development process. By leveraging NuGEN’s expertise and established presence in RNA amplification and sample preparation, we have enhanced our genomic services repertoire and now can also better meet our international customers’ needs, especially when working with limited and challenging clinical samples.”

The family of Ovation RNA amplification and labeling products from NuGEN enables life scientists to conduct sensitive, robust, global gene expression profiling and novel signature discovery using a variety of challenging biological samples and gene expression platforms. Ovation Systems are designed for use with a broad range of sample types such as FFPE tissues, whole blood, tissue biopsies, laser-captured micro-dissected cells, and sorted cells. NuGEN achieved ISO 13485:2003 certification in early 2008 for its quality management systems to support the company’s customers in meeting mandated regulatory processes.

As an authorized service provider, Ocimum will receive specialized training from NuGEN’s technical team. This will ensure they are highly proficient with NuGEN’s technology and can generate high-quality data from customers’ precious samples. To provide advanced support to their customers, Ocimum Biosolutions and NuGEN will work together to develop additional customer resources, such as online seminars and technology updates.

Sue Pandey, Vice President of Field Operations at NuGEN noted, “We are delighted to have Ocimum as our service provider in India. With India’s rapidly growing number of partnerships with global pharma companies, our alliance will significantly contribute to the success of customers’ development and collaboration programs. We look forward to entering further discussions with Ocimum to expand our relationship to include co-marketing and early technology evaluation activities. We believe the combination of NuGEN’s powerful technology and Ocimum’s deep insight into customer needs will result in accelerated introduction of advanced genomic analysis tools for the worldwide clinical research community.”