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The following information has been compiled from publicly available Sources, StratCom does not assume any responsibility for the accuracy or the authenticity of the information and StratCom cannot be held liable for errors.

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Molecular Biology —January 2000

Amersham Pharmacia Biotech has been awarded a grant by the National Human Genome Research Institute (NHGRI) to develop the next generation of robust, high-throughput DNA sequencers for use in genomics laboratories. The new system will increase the number of capillaries in the system to 384 and will have improved data management software.

Aurora Biosciences Corporation has announced today that its GenomeScreen technology has analyzed over half a billion discrete cells derived from 20 million independent GenomeScreen clones in one day. This, the company reported, enables them to rapidly identify commercially relevant genes, and to directly develop screens for drug discovery, faster and more efficiently than existing methodologies. GenomeScreen enables Aurora to aggressively map out functional relationships between genes and their function in metabolic or other disease states.

Cell Genesys, Inc. has nonexclusively licensed certain retroviral gene delivery technology to Clontech Laboratories, Inc., a wholly owned subsidiary of Becton Dickinson and Company. Under the license, Cell Genesys will receive royalties on worldwide sales of these kits and any future products employing Cell Genesys' proprietary retroviral gene delivery technology. Additionally, customers of Clontech who intend to market products arising from research using these kits will need to obtain an additional license to this technology from Cell Genesys prior to product commercialization. Clontech acquires the rights to the kat retroviral gene delivery system developed by Cell Genesys scientists.

Enzo Biochem, Inc. has received two United States patents covering areas applicable to genomic analysis and DNA diagnostics and relating to the detection and identification of genes using microarrays, as well as gene sequencing and technology that can be used to improve DNA probe diagnostics. One patent covers aspects of the application of energy transfer in the identification and characterization of genetic material. The second covers a homogeneous, or one-phase assay system for detecting DNA.

Nanogen, Inc. and Hitachi Ltd., of Japan have entered into an agreement for the commercial manufacturing and distribution of Nanogen's NanoChip instrument system in specified research markets. Initially, the two companies will cooperate concerning the preliminary production phase of the Nanogen NanoChip product. Once the commercial confirmation is completed, both parties will further agree that Hitachi will have the right to be the sole distributor of Hitachi-produced instruments in Japan.

PE Biosystems and Third Wave Technologies, Inc. have signed a merger agreement under which PE Biosystems will acquire Third Wave in a stock-for-stock transaction. Third Wave has developed Invader nucleic acid (DNA and RNA) detection technology that is used to detect differences among genetic sequences important for the analysis of single nucleotide polymorphisms (SNPs). SNPs are single genetic code changes thought to account for individual differences ranging from predispositions for certain diseases to particular responses to drug treatment.

Qiagen N.V. has acquired Rapigene, Inc., an indirect wholly owned subsidiary of Celltech Group PLC. Rapigene markets products in the area of enabling technologies and services for single nucleotide polymorphism (SNP) analyses as well as other genomic applications. Rapigene's methodologies include its Masscode Cleavable Mass Spec Tag technology capable of providing hundreds of simultaneous fluorescent measurements.

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* Molecular Biology - December 1999
* Molecular Biology - November 1999
* Molecular Biology - October 1999
* Molecular Biology - September 1999

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Last modified: Febuary 2, 2000