further on track
BOTHELL, Wash., Sept. 17 /PRNewswire-FirstCall/ -- Epoch Biosciences, Inc.
(Nasdaq: EBIO), a provider of proprietary products that accelerate genomic
analysis, announced it has entered into a worldwide non-exclusive license
agreement with Applied Biosystems Group (NYSE:ABI), an Applera Corporation
business, for its Eclipse(TM) Dark Quencher technology.
As part of the license and supply agreement, Epoch Biosciences will supply
Applied Biosystems its Eclipse Dark Quencher for incorporation into TaqMan(R)
probes for use in 5' nuclease assays. The license covers use of the quencher
technology for detection of microorganisms in the environment. The use of the
Eclipse Dark Quencher on TaqMan probes expands the utility of Epoch's quencher
technology into the field of environmental testing.
The license allows Applied Biosystems to manufacture, sell and distribute
TaqMan(R) probes that carry Epoch's quencher. Under the license agreement,
Epoch will receive license fees and royalties on Applied Biosystems' sales to
purchasers of such licensed products.
William G. Gerber, M.D., chief executive officer of Epoch, said, "We have
worked with Applied Biosystems for over four years and are pleased that they
have chosen to expand this important business relationship. Applied
Biosystems has extensive experience with Epoch technology and recognizes the
value it brings to its TaqMan(R) products. This is the kind of value-added
contribution we believe we can bring to partners and customers who place a
premium on performance."
Eclipse Dark Quencher
The Eclipse Dark Quencher is a pioneering technology developed by Epoch
Biosciences that when attached with a fluorescent dye to a DNA probe,
suppresses the signal generated by the dye until the probe binds to its target
DNA. It offers higher sensitivity in real-time PCR probes due to lower
background fluorescence, is applicable in a broad range of detection systems,
quenches of a broader dye emission spectra range, and is compatible with
simple and robust DNA synthesis procedures.
The Eclipse Dark Quencher is currently incorporated into MGB Eclipse(TM)
Probe Systems distributed for Epoch by Amersham Biosciences, in other
TaqMan(R) products sold by Applied Biosystems, in the Invader System sold by
Third Wave Technologies, and in QuantiTect gene expression assays sold by
QIAGEN. The Eclipse Dark Quencher is also licensed to Takara for use in
real-time PCR detection assays and is distributed by Glen Research for sale
into the research community.
Previous Applied Biosystems and Epoch Technology Licensing Agreements
Epoch has previously licensed its MGB(TM) and Eclipse Dark Quencher
technologies to Applied Biosystems for use in 5' nuclease real-time PCR
assays. The original agreements and subsequent modifications are detailed in
Epoch's Form 10-K and other filings |
