BTG AND DXS SIGN EXCLUSIVE LICENCE WITH ASTRAZENECA TO COMMERCIALISE ARMS DNA DIAGNOSTIC TECHNOLOGY

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BTG AND DXS SIGN EXCLUSIVE LICENCE WITH ASTRAZENECA TO COMMERCIALISE ARMS DNA DIAGNOSTIC TECHNOLOGY
28 September 2006 - BTG

DxS and BTG announced today that they have signed an exclusive licence with AstraZeneca to commercialise the company’s proprietary Amplification Refractory Mutation System DNA diagnostic technology. ARMS is a simple, reliable and widely used method for the detection of gene mutations and single nucleotide polymorphisms.

Under this agreement, BTG and DxS will assume certain rights to the intellectual property and will further commercialise the technology within the diagnostic and research markets. The licensing campaign will be aimed at maximising the commercial value for the ARMS technology via companies that offer products and services which relate to the detection of genetic variation, companies that are currently using ARMS technology as part of their in-house research activities, as well as encouraging new and novel applications for this powerful technology.

The $1 billion nucleic acid diagnostic market includes testing for infectious and genetic diseases, as well as cell/tissue typing, cancer genetics and personalised medicine. It is the fastest growing sector of the diagnostic marketplace, increasing at a rate of 20-40% per annum. This could, according to some industry experts, create a potential $8-10 billion market segment by 2010. ARMS technology has applications throughout this market such as the detection of genetic variations in the genes responsible for common diseases, including cancer and heart disease. ARMS can also be used in personalised medicine tests, to predict which individuals will respond well to a medicine, and typing infectious pathogens.

Dr Joe Carey, Vice President of BTG’s Strategic Business Development Group, commented, “We are pleased that AstraZeneca has elected to partner with BTG and DxS to realise the full value of its ARMS technology. BTG’s success in strategic licensing has been based upon gaining a thorough understanding of the technology and key market applications across a range of industries including the bio-medical field.”

Dr Stephen Little, CEO of DxS, added, “ARMS is an important and valuable genetic analysis technique. By combining the scientific and marketing expertise of DxS with the commercial capabilities of BTG, we will be able to release the inherent value of the AstraZeneca technology. DxS has considerable expertise in the development and application of technologies for nucleic acid analysis, and ARMS is an excellent fit with our current portfolio. We are looking forward to building on our long-standing relationship with AstraZeneca.”

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About: BTG
BTG is an intellectual property and technology commercialisation company that operates internationally. BTG creates value by investing in intellectual property and technology development, and in early stage ventures. We realise value through technology licensing, patent assertion and sale of equity investments. Through a multidisciplinary approach, we apply intellectual property and commercial expertise, together with specialist skills in science and technology, to create major product opportunities in the health and high tech sectors. BTG has commercialised important innovations, including Magnetic Resonance Imaging, Multilevel Cell Memory, Campath (alemtuzumab), the first monoclonal antibody treatment for chronic lymphocytic leukaemia, and recombinant Factor IX blood clotting protein. BTG operates through wholly owned subsidiaries BTG International Ltd and BTG International Inc in the UK and USA, respectively.

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