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Sysmex and Epigenomics AG Announce Strategic R&D Collaboration in Colorectal Cancer Diagnostics

Parties entered into negotiations for a non-exclusive IVD license to mSEPT9 colorectal cancer blood test

26 Jan 2009 - Sysmex Corporation and Epigenomics AG announced that they have signed a strategic research and development collaboration agreement in molecular diagnostics. Under the terms of the agreement, Sysmex and Epigenomics will assess the suitability of Sysmex' molecular diagnostics instrumentation for the detection of DNA methylation cancer biomarkers in blood. As a benchmark for the development of its assay system, Sysmex will use Epigenomics' mSEPT9 Methylation Detection Assay commercially available as a research use only product. If successful, Sysmex intends to develop and commercialize initially in Japan a blood test for the early detection of colorectal cancer based on Epigenomics' proprietary SEPT9 DNA Methylation Biomarker (mSEPT9). Upon entering into this collaboration both parties have started negotiations for a non-exclusive mSEPT9 licensing agreement.
 
Under the terms of the collaboration agreement, Sysmex gets access to Epigenomics' technologies through R&D licenses and technology transfer and will be supported by Epigenomics in its R&D work. In return, Epigenomics will receive certain license fees, R&D funding and reimbursements and will sell its mSEPT9 research use only product to Sysmex.