Roche Diagnostics takes license under
Roche Diagnostics takes license under Organon Teknika's Nucleic Acid Extraction Technology Boxtel, May 18, 1999. - Organon Teknika has granted Roche Diagnostics a license to its proprietary technology for the extraction of nucleic acid from biological samples, referred to as the Boom technology. Organon Teknika's Boom technology is the method of choice for efficient and high quality extraction of nucleic acid from a wide variety of biological sample types. Extraction is a crucial part of nucleic acid amplification systems for diagnosis, screening and monitoring and is also of essential importance in molecular biology research. The Boom technology employs silica and a chaotropic agent to obtain purified nucleic acid preparations. It can be uniformly applied to all kinds of samples, such as whole blood, blood serum or plasma, blood cells, sputum, faeces, urine, tissue cells. The technology is highly suitable for all major amplification technologies. Patents have been granted in the USA, Europe and Japan. Organon Teknika has granted Roche Diagnostics a worldwide, non-exclusive license under its Boom patents to develop, manufacture and sell products utilizing this extraction technology against payment of an up-front fee and running royalties. Mr. Floris van Hall, Organon Teknika's Senior Vice President Nucleic Acid Diagnostics, comments: "We are pleased that now also the world's largest diagnostics company joins other leaders in the field who have already taken a license and are applying our technology in their products. It is a clear recognition of the value of the Boom technology as the golden standard in nucleic acid extraction." @ Organon Teknika is utilizing Boom extraction in its own NucliSens nuc l e i c acid diagnostics product line and for the development of innovative, cutting edge products in this field. Organon Teknika, with headquarters in Boxtel, the Netherlands, specializes in research & development, manufacturing and marketing of advanced systems and products for hospitals, laboratories and blood banks. The company currently employs more than 2,200 people and is active in more than 60 countries worldwide. Akzo Nobel, based in the Netherlands, serves customers throughout the world with healthcare products, coatings, chemicals and fibers. The fibers business, now known as Acordis, will be demerged. The company currently employs approximately 86,000 people in more than 70 countries. As of 1999 the euro is Akzo Nobel's external reporting currency. Consolidated sales for 1998 totaled EUR 12.5 billion (NLG 27.5 billion / USD 13.8 billion / GBP 8.4 billion). Financial results for the second quarter of 1999 will be announced on July 28. - - - Internet:http://www.akzonobel.com http://www.organonteknika.com Note for the editor / not for publication For more information please contact: Organon Teknika Floris van Hall, Senior Vice President Nucleic Acid Diagnostics tel. +31 411 654624 ------------------------------------------------------------ Please visit http://www.bit.se for further information The following files are available for download: http://www.bit.se/bitonline/1999/05/18/19990518BIT00060/bit0001.pdf http://www.bit.se/bitonline/1999/05/18/19990518BIT00060/bit0002.doc