NEW YORK (GenomeWeb News) – Canadian diagnostic test developer Miraculins said today that it has partnered with Inverness Medical Innovations to commercialize Miraculins' suite of biomarkers for preeclampsia.
Under the collaborative research and option agreement, Inverness, through its Biosite division, will develop tests for Miraculins' panel of 35 biomarkers involved in placenta development and the occurrence of preeclampsia, a potentially fatal pregnancy complication.
Inverness will then evaluate the tests in large cohorts of patient blood samples, and will assess the ability of the biomarkers to detect intrauterine growth restriction and other diseases of pregnancy, Miraculins said.
The goal of the partnership is to commercialize Miraculins' biomarkers for worldwide distribution, the company said.
In addition to its R&D commitments, Inverness will pay Miraculins an undisclosed non-refundable fee for the exclusive option to license and commercialize any biomarkers of interest from the program.
Miraculins, based in Winnipeg, Manitoba, retains certain commercial rights to pursue complementary commercial strategies for the markers, and will receive from Inverness a secure supply of reagents and certain rights to intellectual property related to the biomarkers.
Inverness can exercise its option to license the technology at any time during the term of the agreement, upon which it will receive additional fees, developmental and commercial milestone payments, and royalties on sales, Miraculins said.
"In addition to Inverness' established expertise in women's healthcare, pregnancy, and fertility monitoring, we view Inverness' unique antibody development capabilities, acquired through its 2007 purchase of Biosite, as paramount to the value of this collaborative research program," Christopher Moreau, President and CEO of Miraculins, said in a statement.