NEW YORK (GenomeWeb) – Becton Dickinson said today that it has licensed its patented stochastic labelling technology for multiple commercial applications to Roche on a non-exclusive basis.
Specific financial terms of the agreement were not disclosed.
BD's patented stochastic labelling technology incorporates molecular indexes, also called UMIs or molecular barcodes. The technology enables precise counting of individual biological molecules, including DNA or RNA, in complex and often volume-limited samples, BD said.
"This technology enables a range of future products that will broadly benefit many areas of research and future clinical applications," Stephen Gunstream, vice president of genomics at BD, said in a statement.
BD noted that it is developing a suite of products utilizing this technology for accurate quantitative measurements of mRNA targets from single cells. The products enable researchers to obtain insights into the biology of complex and heterogeneous samples, the firm said.
BD added that it is also working with additional partners to license this technology and enable the development of novel tools and assays for the scientific community.