Under the agreement, Cepheid gets non-exclusive rights to incorporate Ambion's Armored RNA technology into in vitro diagnostics. Ambion Diagnostics, a division of Ambion, will manufacture custom reagents for Cepheid, which will use them with its SmartCycler and GeneXpert platforms.
Armored RNA technology, invented by Ambion and Cenetron, helps to stabilize RNA by packaging it in bacteriophage coat proteins. A major application is the production of RNA controls and standards for viral assays. Cepheid plans to use the technology to develop diagnostic tests in the areas of infectious diseases and oncology.