Novacyt, an international clinical diagnostics company, announced Tuesday that its molecular testing division, Primerdesign Ltd., signed an exclusive supply agreement worth at least $3 million with Genesis Diagnostics, a Langhorne, Pennsylvania-based full-service diagnostic laboratory.
Genesis Diagnostics offers clinical diagnostic testing, oral fluid drug testing and services focused on drug monitoring, substance abuse programmes, infectious disease, and personalized medicine.
Primerdesign will develop and supply 384 well plate molecular assay panels for respiratory, women’s health, sexually transmitted, wound and urinary tract infections for Genesis Diagnostics.
“We have been looking for some time to find a suitable molecular manufacturer to help us with our growing demand for specialist molecular diagnostics,” Alan Miller, executive chairman of Genesis Diagnostics, said. “As an expert in molecular diagnostic assay design and development, Primerdesign is, therefore, the ideal partner of choice for Genesis Diagnostics. We have been impressed with Primerdesign’s assay development expertise and manufacturing ability to deliver a high-quality service, and I am pleased to enter this strategic agreement to expand our offering in the US market.”
Under the agreement, Primerdesign will be the exclusive product manufacturer of the panel for a minimum of five years. Genesis Diagnostics will purchase minimum quantities of product to the value of $600,000 per year.
“I am delighted that we are entering into a supply agreement with Genesis Diagnostics,” Graham Mullis, Group CEO of Novacyt, said. “The agreement builds on our broad product offering and the increasing geographic reach of our molecular diagnostics business. It also highlights Primerdesign’s pivotal role in assay development as we continue to grow our relationships with leading diagnostic companies, further increasing our reputation as a leading clinical assay development and supplies partner. “
Mullis noted that Novacyt expects Genesis Diagnostics to order significantly more than the contracted minimum.
The supply of product is expected to begin in early 2019.