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| February 5, 2001 |
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| Mitsubishi Chemical
Acquires Exclusive License for Clinical Diagnostics and Genome related Technology |
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| Mitsubishi Chemical Corporation |
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Mitsubishi Chemical Corporation (Head office: Chiyoda-ku, Tokyo, President: Kanji
Shono) has acquired the exclusive license for next-generation grating-coupled
SPR technology in Japan, from Quantech Ltd. (Head office: Eagan, Minnesota) and
HTS Biosystems, Inc. (Head office: Hopkinton, Massachusetts). Mitsubishi Chemical
has also entered into an Option Agreement to acquire exclusive product distribution
rights in Japan and a Supply/Purchase Agreement for the instruments and consumables
for research purpose at the same time. Mitsubishi Chemical intends to continue
to negotiate with each company to immediately acquire exclusive product distribution
rights in Japan. Mitsubishi Chemical will use the technology to develop commercial
products, including Emergency Department Testing systems and protein chips, and
also intends to enhance the technology, using its extensive technology resources.
Quantech has used its next-generation SPR technology to develop an Emergency Department
Testing system for use when patients arrive in the emergency departments of hospitals.
The system will be launched in the U.S. market under the name "FasTraQ" by the
end of this year. Mitsubishi Chemical will make preparations for the launch of
the system on the Japanese market, including product registration, assay development
and distribution of in vitro diagnostics suitable for the Emergency Department
used in Japan. The FasTraQ instrument will allow the Emergency Department staff
to perform multiple time-critical diagnostic tests, simultaneously and directly
from tubes of whole blood. The platform will also allow the wireless delivery
of test results directly to the appropriate ED staff at bedside in a short time,
without further ED staff intervention.
HTS Biosystems is an R&D-focused development stage company established as
a joint venture between Quantech and Applied Biosystems, which is the leading
genome-related company in the United States. It is involved in the development
of highly efficient protein chips for higher throughput screening system through
the creation of arrays using next-generation SPR technology.
With the SPR method, one of optical analysis method is carried out with sensor
chip and light. Unlike conventional SPR systems, the next-generation SPR technology
does not employ a prism. Instead it relies on "grating", which are applied to
the surface of the chip using the same method that is used on optical disks. These
systems will have the capability of monitoring 400 biomolecular reactions on a
one- by one-centimeter chip at present. The technology supports ultra high density,
and it is possible to build systems that are both cheaper and more compact. Mitsubishi
Chemical is involved in R&D and business activities relating not only to life
sciences but also optical disks. There is potential to use technology developed
through the optical disk business to enhance the SPR technology and facilitate
mass-production for worldwide market.
The Mitsubishi Chemical Group is extensively involved in the life sciences through
activities that range from basic research to the development of commercial products.
Its acquisition of rights to next-generation SPR technology is expected to result
in further enhancements to its technology resources and product line-up.
| For further information, please contact |
| Public Relations Dept., |
| Mitsubishi Chemical Corporation |
| Tel: [+81] 3-3283-6254 |
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