Abbott extended its exclusive distribution deal for U.K. firm Biofortuna’s SSPGo® range of freeze-dried HLA typing kits to include France, Spain, Portugal, and the Benelux countries. Abbott now effectively has exclusive global distribution rights to the SSPGo products, Verdict interpretation software, and future kit updates.
Biofortuna’s HLA molecular diagnostic kit products are based on a freeze-dried technology that stabilizes the PCR reaction mix, including polymerase. The kits are stable at ambient temperature, and require only the addition of DNA to the predispensed PCR reaction mix. The freeze-dried manufacturing technology is separately being offered as a contract service for diagnostic companies.
Last month Biofortuna raised £2.1 million in an investment round with new and existing investors to support expansion of its manufacturing operations and fund the development of new products in areas including companion diagnostics, antibody screening, and disease identification.