Roche and Life Technologies agree PCR licensing deals

Roche has signed a pair of licensing agreements with Life Technologies pertaining to advances in the polymerase chain reaction (PCR) field.

The arrangements will see Life Technologies receive an in-vitro diagnostics product license for Roche's patents for real-time PCR technology, plus other important PCR-related diagnostic innovations.

It encompasses melting curve analysis for real-time PCR, reagents and methods of using SYBR Green I technology, and rights for diagnostic applications of high-resolution melting-curve analysis.

This intellectual property portfolio is being licensed by Roche in cooperation with Idaho Technology, with financial terms for the deal remaining undisclosed.

Paul Brown, head of Roche Molecular Diagnostics, said: "Roche has a broad, active out-licensing program for its PCR-based intellectual property portfolio. By continuing to out-license this technology, we contribute to the development of well-validated techniques within the diagnostics field."

Earlier this month, the company announced its financial results for 2011, highlighting a two percent sales growth during the year.