NEW YORK (GenomeWeb News) – Exiqon today announced it has granted a non-exclusive license for its locked nucleic acids technology to Becton Dickinson for the development of diagnostics for infectious diseases.
Under the terms of the deal, Exiqon will receive upfront and milestone payments and royalties on global sales of products stemming from the agreement. No other financial terms were disclosed.
BD will market a number of defined LNA-enhanced products to run on its BD Max next-generation system for molecular diagnostics based on real-time PCR. The agreement is the first time that the LNA technology is being applied in the development of diagnostic products with the goal of gaining clearance from the US Food and Drug Administration, Exiqon said in a statement.
Exiqon plans to license out its LNA technology in markets that it does not plan to pursue itself, it added.