美国Courtagen与Tetracore达成生物防御倡议 利用下一代测序技术开发生物战剂检测试剂

 



美国Courtagen与Tetracore达成生物防御倡议 利用下一代测序技术开发生物战剂检测试剂


Courtagen To Partner With Tetracore in Biodefense Initiative

COURTAGEN TO PARTNER WITH TETRACORE IN BIODEFENSE INITIATIVE
-- Partners to Develop Quantitative Point -of-Care Surveillance and Detection Assay for High
Threat Biological Agents and Infectious Diseases --
WOBURN, Mass., February 09, 2012 -- Courtagen Life Sciences, Inc. (“Courtagen”), a privately
held life sciences company that provides innovative proteomic and genomic products and
services to the life sciences industry, today announced that it has entered into a strategic
collaboration with Tetracore, Inc. (“Tetracore”) to develop a next generation biothreat assay for
identifying and diagnosing high priority biological agents in clinical and environmental samples.
Some of the target agents include those which cause significant diseases such as anthrax and
plague, as well as dangerous toxins such as ricin and botulinum.  The combined effort will
focus on addressing the critical need to quickly and accurately identify the pathogen while also
quantifying the magnitude of the potential threat.
The collaboration provides validation of the Courtagen protein diagnostic technology by a
recognized leader in diagnostic reagents and assays for infectious diseases and biological
warfare threat agents.  Together the two companies will pursue a first in class solution that
could enable the Biomedical Advanced Research and Development Authority (BARDA) and
other Federal biodefense programs to achieve their goal of developing biothreat point-of-care
diagnostic countermeasures.
"The unmatched sensitivity, accuracy and ease of use of Courtagen’s Avantra® Q400 Protein
Biomarker Technology combined with Tetracore’s biothreat assay expertise will for the first
time enable the creation of rapid diagnostic medical countermeasures in the field,” said Brendan
McKernan, President of Courtagen Life Sciences.  “The outcomes of this partnership have the
potential to make a significant impact on biodefense, public health and drug development
initiatives.”
 “This collaboration is a much welcomed opportunity and is on track to produce a powerful
solution for point-of-care detection of some of the world’s most dangerous agents,” said Tom
O’Brien, Ph.D., Vice President of Tetracore.  “Courtagen’s unique multiplex detection technology
is an ideal platform to leverage our experience and high quality reagents.”
About Courtagen Protein Diagnostics
Courtagen has developed a next-generation, POC protein biomarker technology, called the
Avantra
®
 Q400 Biomarker Workstation and QPDx
®
 BioChip. This technology is ideal for users
who operate in a decentralized environment and require on-demand testing of biomarkers. The
protein diagnostics technology provides users with an integrated system that automates sample
processing, reagent handling, biomarker detection and analysis. This unmatched simplicity
minimizes user error and affords precision with limited operator training.
About Tetracore, Inc.
Tetracore is a biotechnology research and development organization that develops highly
innovative diagnostic reagents and assays for infectious diseases and biological warfare (BW)
threat agents. The company focuses on antibody-based and nucleic acid-based detection
reagents and technologies. Tetracore offers a broad range of highly-specific, rapid, antibody-based test kits and antibody reagents for the detection of BW infectious agents and toxins,
including the first FDA-cleared test kit for identification of B. anthracis from colonies. Tetracore
also offers a product line of real-time polymerase chain reaction (PCR) test kits for sensitive and
specific detection of animal pathogens. In addition, Tetracore contracts with the US Government
for development of diagnostic tests for BW agents, novel nucleic acid extraction procedures,
and specialized nucleic acid products. More information can be found at www.tetracore.com.
About Courtagen Life Sciences, Inc.
Courtagen Life Sciences is a privately held life science company that provides innovative
proteomic and genomic products and services to the Life Sciences industry. Founded by
innovators in next-generation sequencing (NGS), genetics, molecular biology, and information
science, our company delivers tools that enable researchers and clinicians to make better
decisions regarding drug development and patient care. Courtagen provides proteomic and
genomic solutions through its various operating divisions. More information can be found at
www.courtagen.com.
CONTACT:
Courtagen: Tetracore:
Elizabeth Holland Tom O’Brien, Ph.D.
Vice President Vice President
617-892-7178 240-268-5400
Maureen L. Suda (Media)
Suda Communications LLC, 585-387-9248
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