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Licensing Deal Brings Sequenom's NIPD Technology to Parts of Europe, the Middle East, and Africa

NEW YORK (GenomeWeb News) – Sequenom announced today a deal to expand access to its MaterniT21 Plus fetal non-invasive prenatal diagnostic test to parts of Europe, the Middle East, and Africa.

The San Diego-based firm and its wholly owned subsidiary, Sequenom Center for Molecular Medicine have entered into technology licensing and marketing agreements that provide the MaterniT21 Plus technology to Laboratoire Cerba in France for the creation of NIPD testing services in that country. In addition, Laboratoire Cerba has the rights to market its NIPD service there as well as Luxembourg, Belgium, Lebanon, Morocco, Algeria, Tunisia, Libya, Senegal, Ivory Coast, Burkina Faso, and Cameroun.

The technology licensing deal takes effect immediately and lasts through 2018.

"Combining Sequenom CMM's prenatal testing technology with our laboratory testing expertise and network is great news for expectant families in Europe, as we will be able to provide them important information about their pregnancies in an accurate, safe and efficient method," Sylvie Cado, COO of Laboratoire Cerba, said in a statement. "This collaboration gives us the opportunity to increase our portfolio in the field of noninvasive prenatal diagnosis."

Financial and other terms of the agreements were not disclosed.

In 2011, Sequenom and German company LifeCodexx inked a deal to bring NIPD testing to parts of Europe including Germany, Austria, Switzerland, and Lichtenstein.

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