NEW YORK (GenomeWeb News) – Orion Genomics, a St. Louis-based epigenetic research tools and molecular diagnostics company, and Novartis Pharma's molecular diagnostics unit have entered into a multi-year collaboration and license agreement, Orion announced today.
The collaboration, aimed at discovering epigenetic markers related to a range of diseases, will involve mapping DNA methylation across the genome using Orion's MethylScope Technology.
Under the agreement, both Orion and Novartis will retain rights to independently develop and commercialize diagnostic products in their respective fields. Orion also has granted Novartis non-exclusive, world-wide rights to its PCR-based MethylScreen clinical assay technology, which is used to detect epigenetic markers in patient samples.
"[O]ur collaboration with Novartis Molecular Diagnostics aims to support the development of innovative tests which we hope will provide physicians and patients with better information to guide treatment decisions," Orion Genomics President and CEO Nathan Lakey said in a statement.
Financial terms of the agreement were not disclosed.