Sequenom Licenses Prenatal Dx Patents from Isis Innovation

NEW YORK, Oct. 20 (GenomeWeb News) - Sequenom today said it has acquired from Isis Innovation exclusive rights in certain countries to non-invasive prenatal diagnostic intellectual property.

The IP, which is covered in the United States, United Kingdom, and other countries in Europe, covers non-invasive prenatal genetic testing on fetal nucleic acids derived from plasma or serum. It includes tests for such disorders as cystic fibrosis, hemoglobinopathies, and chromosomal aneuploidies, and enables them to be performed on any platform including mass spectrometry and real time PCR.

Financial terms include up-front fees, milestone payments, and royalties on product sales. Isis is the tech-transfer company of the University of Oxford.

"The licensed rights enable the development and performance of tests on any relevant platform, including [Sequenom's flagship] MassArray system," Harry Stylli, Sequenom's president and CEO, said in a statement.