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Center for Human Genetics to Cease Offering Athena Dx's Tests

Aug 18, 2008
NEW YORK (GenomeWeb News) – The Center for Human Genetics of Boston University and the Center for Human Genetics Inc., will stop offering testing services that are covered by patents licensed to Athena Diagnostics, Boston University said today.
 
Athena Diagnostics, a subsidiary of Thermo Fisher Scientific, focuses on offering tests for neurological diseases, such as Alzheimer’s disease and neuromuscular diseases, that it licenses from universities.
 
The tests CHG has agreed to stop offering include those for hearing loss related to A1555G or Connexin 26 mutations, developmental disorders; myotonic dystrophy; Friedreich’s Ataxia; hereditary neuropathy; polycystic kidney disease; spinal muscular atrophy; spinocerebellar ataxia; and tuberous sclerosis.
 
The University said the agreement followed a negotiated settlement with the company. It added that the settlement does not affect any non-commercial research activities at BU.
 
BU said that CHG has advised its customers that it will forward requests for Athena-licensed tests to the company for processing, or it will notify clients that they may take requests to Athena directly.

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