Indusrty Buzz: Evogen, MRIGlobal to Collaborate on Test Development

Two Midwest companies that focus on laboratory testing equipment and medical research have joined forces to develop laboratory tests. Kansas City, Mo.-based MRIGlobal has come to terms with Lenexa, Kan.-based Evogen for a five-year agreement on the development of several products, including assays in the disease detection and molecular arenas. “Evogen and MRIGlobal see opportunities to collaborate on delivering new and innovative solutions that can help physicians make earlier and more accurate diagnoses,” said Thomas M. Sack, MRIGlobal’s interim chief executive officer. Officials with both companies declined to disclose specific areas of testing they plan to focus on, citing potential issues with competitors. “MRIGlobal is working on several multiplex assays for infectious diseases,” said Rich St.Clair, Evogen’s vice president of commercialization. St.Clair added that the first of the tests would be available for distribution by the end of 2013. No details on how it would be distributed were available. The agreement appears to move both firms into new fields. Evogen distributes a variety of laboratory support products, particularly for the collection of polymerase chain reaction (PCR) for use in molecular diagnostics, but it does not market any lab tests. In February, Evogen entered into a distribution deal with California-based Focus Diagnostics regarding HyBeacons, a proprietary PCR probe technology it had developed in-house. MRIGlobal, which operates a CLIA-certified laboratory in Florida, primarily performs research for corporate and government clients, with an emphasis on national security and military projects. It has expertise in therapeutics, vaccines, pharmaceutical product development, and microbial forensics. Evogen was spun off from MRIGlobal more than a decade ago, but the two firms have worked on various collaborations in the years since, officials said. St.Clair noted that developing tests appeared to be the next logical step in the business relationship. Takeaway: Two firms are entering into a joint agreement to propel themselves into the development and distribution of laboratory tests.