Roche agrees MycoTOOL distribution deal with Lonza

Roche has announced a new distribution agreement with Lonza that is intended to broaden access to its MycoTOOL mycoplasma PCR assays.

The co-exclusive deal will allow Lonza to commercialise the products for final release testing of pharmaceutical products, as well as provide contract testing services using the system.

This will make the testing solution more accessible to life scientists seeking to perform rapid mycoplasma evaluations in-house, as well as those wishing to send samples for external evaluation.

Roche's device has been approved by the European Medicines Agency and is the first commercially available mycoplasma PCR-test used to replace traditional mycoplasma tests in pharmaceutical production.

Robert Yates, head of Roche Applied Science, said it is placing confidence in Lonza's "reputation for quality and customer care".

Earlier this month, the firm's 454 Life Sciences division launched the GS GType HLA Primer Sets, new kits designed to help accelerate genotyping processes.