Quidel Corporation Announces Exclusive Licenses to Molecular Antiviral Resistance and Detection Technology for Influenza

SAN DIEGO -- Quidel Corporation, a leading provider of rapid point-of-care diagnostic tests, announces exclusive, worldwide licenses to the antiviral resistance microarray-based influenza detection technology (AVR-Chip) and to the microarray-based influenza B detection technology (BChip), both developed by scientists at the University of Colorado at Boulder (CU-Boulder) in close collaboration with the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention (CDC).

"We are extremely pleased to enter into these agreements with the University of Colorado, as it strengthens Quidels technology foundation in influenza diagnostics," commented Caren Mason, president and CEO. Exclusive access to molecular-based technologies for influenza B diagnostics, and for detection of antiviral resistance, greatly complements our ongoing progress with our MChip technology for influenza A, which was licensed in December 2006 from CU-Boulder. These licenses also reinforce our commitment to market leadership in rapid point-of-care influenza diagnostics.

The AVR-Chip is useful in identifying mutations that may confer resistance to antiviral reagents and may then facilitate proper influenza treatment decisions. The ability to identify antiviral susceptibility is important for global monitoring of influenza patterns, and for directing physicians toward better treatment decisions.

The BChip can detect influenza B virus strains, for example B/Victoria/2/87 and B/Yamagata/16/88. This information is critical in determining seasonal influenza vaccines. In a recent study of 62 influenza B virus samples from 19 countries, dating from 1945 to 2005, as well as five negative control samples, the BChip exhibited 97 percent sensitivity and 100 percent specificity, with no false positives.(1)

After many years of faculty research, we are excited to have executed three licenses with a leading company in the diagnostic industry. This arrangement has the potential to help millions of people, said David Allen, CUs associate vice president for technology.

Reference: (1) Dankbar DM, Dawson ED, Mehlmann M, Moore CL, Smagala JA, Shaw MW, Cox NJ, Kuchta RD and Rowlen KL, Diagnostic Microarray for Influenza B Viruses. Anal. Chem. 2007, 79:2084-2090.

Source: Quidel Corporation