Gen-Probe and 3M will together develop, manufacture and market the nucleic acid tests (NATs). Thetests will speed up the time it takes to determine whether a food is carrying pathogens or not, thecompanies claimed in an announcement.
The collaboration will allow 3M to provide food processors with a broader range of products that complementits widely used 3M Petrifilm Plate product line and its test kits acquired throught the company'sbuyout of Biotrace International, the companies said.
"This agreement is another important milestone in our strategy to enter attractive new growth markets with our proprietary NAT technologies," saidHank Nordhoff, Gen-Probe's chairman, president and chief executive officer.
Under the terms of the agreement, 3M is responsible for developing sample processing methods that will be used with Gen-Probe's NATsproduct. 3M also is responsible for obtaining the necessary regulatory licenses and approvals tocommercialise the products, and for selling and marketing them worldwide.
Gen- Probe is responsible for assay development and manufacturing. 3M has agreed to make payments to Gen-Probe based ontechnical progress,
and to help fund assay development.
