Life Technologies and Chinese molecular in vitro diagnostics firm DaAn Gene are establishing a diagnostics joint venture operation in China. Life Technologies and DaAn Diagnsotics will develop and commercialize a portfolio of molecular diagnostic assays for cancer, infectious disease, and genetic diseases, using Life’s 3500Dx capillary electrophoresis instrument and Big Dye® cycle sequencing technologies. The 3500Dx Genetic Analyzer was approved for IVD use in China in October 2011.
The firms maintain that the move will allow them to expand the use of capillary electrophoresis technology into the Chinese clinical market. Life says the joint venture will strengthen the foundation of its clinical diagnostics business, represents a major step for its business in China, and complements the Chinese government’s 12th five-year plan to promote national economic and social development.
“The joint venture will help us offer leading medical diagnostic technologies with cost-effective solutions to Chinese healthcare professionals," comments Siddhartha Kadia, Ph.D., president of Life Technologies, Greater China. “This approach leverages our expertise in platform development and DaAn’s expertise in regulated markets with kit development and commercialization."
DaAn Gene is focused on the development and production of IVD products, instruments, reagents, and services including PCR, TRF, ELISA, and RAPID diagnostic kits and equipment.