Roche Diagnostics and Exiqon A/S, Vedbaek, Denmark, a provider of high-value gene expression analysis products, today announced the signing of an amendment to their 2005 license and distribution agreement for the Universal ProbeLibrary (UPL) that is based on Exiqon’s proprietary Locked Nucleic Acid (LNA(TM)) Oligonucleotides. Under the terms of the agreement, Roche`s exclusive rights to sell and distribute the ProbeLibrary products are extended on a co-exclusive basis. In addition, Roche obtains co-exclusive rights to use the UPL for the development and manufacturing of its new line of RealTime ready qPCR assays. With the RealTime ready assay line, Roche Applied Science will offer a fully customizable portfolio of validated target specific gene expression assays for quantitative PCR in single assay format and multiwell plate format, pre-plated in 96 and 384 well qPCR plates for the LightCycler(R) System.

“This agreement allows us to continue our successful business with the Universal ProbeLibrary products. We will address the current need for increased speed and flexibility in biomedical research providing customized on demand supply of single assays and ready to use qPCR panels for virtually every gene of the human genome and other important organisms. The Universal ProbeLibrary products supplement our broad existing portfolio of RealTime PCR products in the best possible way,” comments Manfred Baier, Head of Roche Applied Science, a business area within Roche Diagnostics.

“This extension of our successful partnership with Roche allows the application of the technology of for Exiqon’s LNA(TM) detection in the new and fast growing market for ready-to-use and customizable RealTime PCR products. We are exited to have Roche Diagnostics, who is a leader in the RealTime PCR market, embrace the technology of LNA(TM) detection in their new product offering,” comments Lars Kongsbak, President and CEO of Exiqon.