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Glaxo to Evaluate Quantum Dot SNP Detection System

Jan 16, 2001

NEW YORK, Jan 16 - Quantum Dot said Tuesday that GlaxoSmithKline has agreed to help in evaluating the company’s SNP detection assays.

Financial terms of the deal were not disclosed. Andy Watson, vice president of systems at QDC, said the evaluation could potentially lead to a licensing agreement.

"They’ll be using their expertise to evaluate the data we generate and to see how applicable it is to their needs," said Watson.

Watson said that the company’s Qbead analysis system was a multiplexed detection system that could be applied to SNP, expression, diagnostic, cellular, and protein detection. The system works by inserting Qdot nanocrystals into polymer microspheres, or Qbeads, in order to create unique codes. Once this is done, different ligands are attached, providing a way for many assays to be analyzed simultaneously.

Watson added that the Qbead system helps to drive down the consumption of DNA as well as costs.

Founded in 1998, Quantum Dot, a company with about 50 employees, is located in Hayward, Calif. The company’s Quantum Dot technology is currently used for biologic and genetic analysis.

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