Seegene and BD Form Worldwide Collaboration to Develop Multiplex Molecular Diagnostic Assays

Seegene Inc. and BD Life Sciences, a segment of BD (Becton, Dickinson and Company) has announced that they have entered into a worldwide collaboration agreement to co-develop multiplex real-time PCR reagents for the BD MAX™ System.

Under the terms of the agreement, Seegene will develop and manufacture multiplex tests based on novel DPO™, TOCE™, and MuDT™ technologies designed exclusively for BD's molecular diagnostics platform. BD, in turn, will have worldwide commercialization rights to these tests.

"We are very pleased to partner with Seegene and incorporate their innovative proprietary technologies into our easy-to-use, fully automated BD MAX™ platform," said Doug White, VP/GM Molecular Diagnostics and Women's Health, BD Life Sciences. "With Seegene's multiplex reagents that simultaneously detect and identify various types of pathogens in a single test, we will continue to expand the BD MAX™ assay portfolio."

The BD MAX™ System offers an efficient path to improved clinical outcomes by combining and automating real-time PCR extraction, amplification and detection into a single platform capable of running a wide range of assays across multiple disease states, enabling physicians to address a wide breadth of testing needs.

Seegene's CEO, Dr. Jong-Yoon Chun, added, "Our agreement with BD represents another meaningful milestone to Seegene's global expansion initiatives in the molecular diagnostics market. BD's commercial strength in the IVD market will help to bring Seegene's powerful multiplex PCR chemistry technologies to more physicians and patients worldwide."