Molecular and Sample Barcoding IP Portfolio Bolsters Agilent’s
Leadership Position in NGS Target Enrichment Solutions
IP Portfolio Aimed at Improving Accuracy and Sensitivity of NGS Detection
SANTA CLARA, Calif.--(BUSINESS WIRE)--Jul. 24, 2017--
Agilent Technologies Inc. (NYSE: A) (“Agilent”) today announced that it
has acquired the molecular and sample barcoding patent portfolios of
Population Genetics Technologies (“Population Genetics”). Founded in
2005, Population Genetics was formed to commercialize the intellectual
property portfolio of Nobel Laureate Sydney Brenner focused on high
sensitivity and high specificity Next Generation Sequencing (“NGS”)
detection. In 2015, Population Genetics became an IP holding entity with
over 30 patents. Financial terms of the purchase were not disclosed.
“Our customers are increasingly requiring fully integrated
next-generation sequencing workflows with the highest performance,” said
Herman Verrelst, vice president and general manager of Agilent’s
Genomics Division. “With the addition of this IP portfolio, we can now
deliver complete target enrichment solutions to our customers that they
can trust, from QC to target enrichment, to analysis and interpretation
that meets this demand.”
The acquired Population Genetics IP includes patents related to both
molecular and sample barcoding that improve accuracy and sensitivity of
NGS detection. The combination of these patents provides for
customizable target enrichment solutions that enable customers to detect
ultra-low mutation frequencies in very small DNA quantities. These
features are ideal for detection of rare-variants in cancer and
reproductive genetics, including liquid biopsies.
“We are excited to bring these technologies to our customers,” said
Jacob Thaysen, president of Agilent’s Diagnostics and Genomics Group.
“We outlined a strategy to grow in the diagnostics space, and to build a
complete routine clinical NGS workflow. This acquisition is another
example of executing on that strategy, and our commitment to helping our
customers improve the quality of life.”
Agilent’s newest next generation sequencing library prep solution,
Agilent SureSelectXTHS, incorporates molecular
barcodes from this IP portfolio. The incorporation of these molecular
barcodes improves the overall precision and produces higher complexity
libraries than competing products, on a broad range of tissue types and
low- and high-quality FFPE samples. Information about SureSelectXTHS is available on Agilent’s website.
Agilent and Population Genetics had a previous licensing arrangement
providing Agilent with licensing rights to certain Population Genetics
molecular barcode patented technology, which allows for the sensitive
and confident detection of minority genetic variants on next generation
sequencing platforms to levels below 0.1%.
About Agilent Technologies
Agilent Technologies Inc. (NYSE: A) is a global leader in life sciences,
diagnostics and applied chemical markets. With more than 50 years of
insight and innovation, Agilent instruments, software, services,
solutions, and people provide trusted answers to its customers’ most
challenging questions. The company generated revenues of $4.20 billion
in fiscal 2016 and employs about 13,000 people worldwide. Information
about Agilent is available at www.agilent.com.
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Source: Agilent Technologies Inc.
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