In Brief: Chromagen/3M
This article was originally published in The Gray Sheet
Executive Summary
Chromagen/3M: Ink a collaborative development plan for novel solid phase extraction (SPE) technology to be used in Chromagen's diagnostic test products. SPE is one of three core technologies that San Diego, California-based Chromagen, a manufacturer of both nucleic-acid probe and immunoassay applications, has integrated into its Impact quantitative diagnostic assay technology. The development plan formalizes an informal arrangement between the two firms. Chromagen cites several performance advantages of the Impact platform technology in comparison to other diagnostic and therapeutic tools. For example, Impact offers sensitivity approaching that of PCR, greater specificity, reduction in time-to-result, and improved reproducibility, the company claims. Company officials say that clinical trials, slated to begin during the second quarter of 1996, will employ a microtiter plate format immunoassay and could test for diseases such as Chlamydia, Cryptosporidium, and Mychrobacterium tuberculosis...