THOROLD, ON, March 3 /PRNewswire/ - Norgen Biotek recently received a financial
contribution of over $800,000 from the National Research Council of
Canada Industrial Research Assistance Program (NRC-IRAP). Norgen Biotek
is an innovative Canadian biotechnology company focusing primarily on
advancing powerful tools for nucleic acids (NA) and protein
purification and preservation, as well as developing leading-edge
diagnostic tools. This funding will allow Norgen to develop new point
of care diagnostic technologies which are targeted for use in
resource-limited settings. These technologies will be geared toward the
development of non-invasive, urine-based, rapid detection systems for
the diagnosis of a panel of sexually transmitted infections, in
addition to other diseases such as Tuberculosis. Norgen will be
collaborating in this R&D effort with an established Spanish diagnostic
company in order to roll out and productize the newly developed
technologies.
Norgen Biotek makes best-in-class products for nucleic acid and protein
sample preparation, and has recognized that high quality sample
preparation is the key to high quality diagnostics. Norgen recently
launched a line of diagnostic products for research use that includes
kits for the diagnosis of human pathogens, plant pathogens and
food-borne pathogens. Now, with this new funding, Norgen will focus on
the development of point-of-care human diagnostic kits for use in
resource-limited areas, as well as for home use testing. Furthermore,
these new technologies will rely on the use of non-invasive specimens
such as urine and saliva for ease of use and cost reduction. Norgen's
purification technology is extremely well suited for use in
resource-limited settings, as Norgen's resin is able to isolate and
concentrate DNA, RNA and proteins from samples without the use of
centrifugation or other equipment.
"I am very delighted that NRC-IRAP is supporting this very important
research project. Such funding will help us in the transitioning of
our powerful nucleic acid isolation technology into diagnostics
applications. The quality of a diagnostic test is only as good as the
quality of the sample preparation, and as leaders in sample preparation
we are in an ideal position to make first-in-class diagnostics
especially for resource limited areas." said Dr. Haj-Ahmad, President &
CEO of Norgen Biotek. "Currently, we produce the leading products for
the isolation of high quality RNA, DNA and proteins from urine, and
therefore we anticipate to develop first-in-class urine-based
diagnostic tests for the detection of sexually transmitted infections.
These point of care tests can be used in resource limited areas, as
well as for home use. Moreover, once validated such a platform shall
be applied to other diseases such as Hepatitis B, Hepatitis C, HIV,
etc" added Dr. Haj-Ahmad.
About Norgen Biotek Corp.
Norgen Biotek, an ISO 13485:2003andISO 9001:2008registered company, is a rapidly growing Canadian biotech company
committed to providing innovative products and services to the life
sciences and pharmaceutical industry. Norgen has developed technologies
and products for the purification of nucleic acids and proteins on both
preparative and industrial scales, including ready-to-use
chromatography resins and pre-packed chromatography columns. Norgen is
seeking partners to conduct clinical testing and obtain regulatory
approvals for their new line of non-invasive diagnostic kits, as well
as other modalities of business opportunities.
SOURCE Norgen Biotek Corp.