London, UK, March 23, 2004 – DxS and BTG (LSE: BGC) announced today that they have signed an exclusive licence with AstraZeneca to commercialise the company’s proprietary Amplification Refractory Mutation System (ARMS™) DNA diagnostic technology. ARMS™ is a simple, reliable and widely used method for the detection of gene mutations and single nucleotide polymorphisms.
Under this agreement, BTG and DxS will assume certain rights to the intellectual property and will further commercialise the technology within the diagnostic and research markets. The licensing campaign will be aimed at maximising the commercial value for the ARMS™ technology via companies that offer products and services which relate to the detection of genetic variation, companies that are currently using ARMS™ technology as part of their in-house research activities, as well as encouraging new and novel applications for this powerful technology.
The $1 billion nucleic acid diagnostic market includes testing for infectious and genetic diseases, as well as cell/tissue typing, cancer genetics and personalised medicine. It is the fastest growing sector of the diagnostic marketplace, increasing at a rate of 20-40% per annum. This could, according to some industry experts, create a potential $8-10 billion market segment by 2010. ARMS™ technology has applications throughout this market such as the detection of genetic variations in the genes responsible for common diseases, including cancer and heart disease. ARMS™ can also be used in personalised medicine tests, to predict which individuals will respond well to a medicine, and typing infectious pathogens.
Dr Joe Carey, Vice President of BTG’s Strategic Business Development Group, commented, “We are pleased that AstraZeneca has elected to partner with BTG and DxS to realise the full value of its ARMS™ technology. BTG’s success in strategic licensing has been based upon gaining a thorough understanding of the technology and key market applications across a range of industries including the bio-medical field.”
Dr Stephen Little, CEO of DxS, added, “ARMS™ is an important and valuable genetic analysis technique. By combining the scientific and marketing expertise of DxS with the commercial capabilities of BTG, we will be able to release the inherent value of the AstraZeneca technology.
DxS has considerable expertise in the development and application of technologies for nucleic acid analysis, and ARMS™ is an excellent fit with our current portfolio. We are looking forward to building on our long-standing relationship with AstraZeneca.”
About BTG
BTG finds, develops and commercialises emerging technologies in the life and physical sciences. These innovations are protected by a strong portfolio of intellectual property that BTG develops and enhances. BTG then captures the value in these technologies through licensing and venturing activities. From the origins of its business in 1949, BTG has commercialised major innovations such as Magnetic Resonance Imaging (MRI), recombinant factor IX blood-clotting protein, Campath® (alemtuzumab) and Multilevel Cell (MLC) memory. BTG is quoted on the London Stock Exchange under the symbol “BGC” and operates from offices in London and Philadelphia, with representation in Tokyo. BTG operates through wholly owned subsidiaries, BTG International Ltd and BTG International Inc in the UK and USA, respectively. Further information on BTG can be found at www.btgplc.com.
About DxS
DxS is an established genotyping services company providing pharmaceutical, biotechnology and clinical research companies with rapid and reliable pharmacogenetic analysis to support drug discovery, clinical development and personalised medicine. DxS operates from purpose built laboratories equipped with fully automated sample handling and genotyping systems in Manchester, UK. The Company has implemented industry-leading laboratory management systems and quality control practices.
The DxS service is based on proprietary Scorpions™ technology that allows rapid and reliable PCR-based genotyping, and on SAFEspot™, a card-based sample collection system that greatly simplifies the storage and transport of blood spots. Scorpions™ technology is also licensed to oligonucleotide suppliers and diagnostic companies, including Ortho-Clinical Diagnostics. For more information on DxS, please visit www.dxsgenotyping.com.
About AstraZeneca
AstraZeneca is a major international healthcare business engaged in the research, development, manufacture and marketing of prescription pharmaceuticals and the supply of healthcare services. It is one of the top five pharmaceutical companies in the world with healthcare sales of over $18.8 billion and leading positions in sales of gastrointestinal, oncology, cardiovascular, neuroscience and respiratory products. AstraZeneca is listed in the Dow Jones Sustainability Index (Global and European) as well as the FTSE4Good Index.
Worldwide, AstraZeneca has six major research and development sites, four discovery facilities and a clinical research site. In total, AstraZeneca’s R&D organisation is comprised of more than 11,500 people located in seven countries including Canada, France, India, Japan, Sweden, United Kingdom and the United States.
Contact
DxS
Dr. Stephen Little
+44 (0) 161 606 7223
Email:stephen.little@dxsgenotyping.com
De Facto Communications
Maria Payne
+44 (0) 207 469 3300
Email:m.payne@defacto.com
BTG
Dr. Lorraine Jones
+44 (0) 207 575 1622
Email:lorraine.jones@btgplc.com
