Kyoto, September 20, 2002 - JCN Newswire - Takara Bio Inc. terminated an agreement with ARKRAY, Inc. relating to a nucleic acid detection system using Takara Bio's proprietary DNA amplification technology, ICAN method.

The ICAN (Isothermal and Chimeric primer-initiated Amplification of Nucleic acids) method is a highly efficient, isothermal DNA amplification technology developed by Takara Bio that can isothermally amplify and detect target DNA with a level of sensitivity exceeding that of the PCR method.

As such, it allows genetic diagnosis of infectious diseases and other examinations, traditionally carried out with the PCR method, in a more efficient and cost-effective manner.

Takara Bio had granted to ARKRAY non-exclusive rights to use the ICAN method in the nucleic acid detection systems it develops for medical diagnosis, food inspection and human genome analysis since April 9, 2001.

ARKRAY has changed its ICAN-related developmental plans, which led to the termination of the existing alliance. As a result, all licenses and rights relating to ICAN possessed up until now by ARKRAY have been terminated on August 23, 2002.

Takara Bio will continue to proactively develop ICAN-based diagnostic and analytical systems in-house, as well as collaborations.

The tuberculosis bacteria detection kit for research-use, released earlier this month through Medca Japan Co., Ltd., is the first new product in the Bed-Side ICAN Series. Takara Bio expects to make a number of new additions to the series before the end of the year, including the carbapenem-resistant bacteria detection kit for research-use.

Reference:

Outline of ARKRAY, Inc.
President and Representative Director : Shigeru Doi
Head Office : 57 Nishi Aketa-cho, Higashi-Kujo, Minami-ku, Kyoto 601, Japan
Established : June 1960
Capital : 794 million yen
No. of Employees : 660 (including affiliated companies)
Net Sales: 49.7 billion yen (year ended October 2001)
Operating Activities : Sales and manufacture of medical equipment and external-use diagnostic agents

Outline of Medca Japan Co., Ltd.
President and Representative Director : Yutaka Kannari
Location : 673, 3-chome, Tenjin, Konosu, Saitama 365-8511, Japan
Established : October 1, 1974
Capital : 10,168 million yen (As of August 2002)
No. of Employees : 630 (including affiliated companies)
Net Sales : 15.9 billion (year ended May 2002)
Operating Activities : Clinical trials, home-visit nursing and similar services

For more information, please contact Business Development Takara Bio, Inc. E-mail : hayashiy@takara-bio.co.jp

This article is translated from news in Japanese for your convenience.