NEW YORK (GenomeWeb News) – Specialty laboratory Physician's Choice Laboratory Services today announced it has acquired the assets of MultiGen Diagnostics for an undisclosed amount.
The deal includes full access to and control of the commercialization of MultiGen's platform technology, which PCLS said "greatly reduces the cost of delivering targeted molecular diagnostics and genetic mutation analysis."
According to MultiGen's website, its platform is a modification of Sanger sequencing that enables the simultaneous determination of unique DNA sequences from multiple organisms or multiple human DNA mutations. The technology can be used to detect oligo sequences associated with infectious diseases, and to identify genetic cancer mutations and genetic factors associated with predispositions to health risksi.
PCLS noted specifically the use of the technology in hospital-acquired infections and said that it will use it "in conjunction with [its] investment in HealthCure to help hospitals reduce the rate of HAIs and implement an array of strategies to manage nosocomial infections."
PCLS invested in HealthCure, a company focused on reducing HAIs in the healthcare system, earlier this year.
The company said that a "significant" target application for MultiGen's technology is to advance clinical diagnosis and environmental monitoring of infectious disease-causing organisms.
PCLS President Joe Wiegel said in a statement, "We see much broader applications of this technology as we grow our menu of services, especially in the area of infectious disease testing, and we believe there are synergies with several of our strategic areas of focus."
MultiGen's assets have been transferred to a new company that is retaining the MultiGen name and will operate as a subsidiary of PCLS. Rock Hill, SC-based PCLS offers services focused on drug toxicology, pharmacogenetics, infectious disease, and personalized medicine.