Distribution Agreement Reached for Multiplexed Assay Platforms

Affymetrix Inc. (Santa Clara, CA, USA) and Luminex Corporation (Austin, TX, USA) have announced their agreement under which eBioscience, a business unit of Affymetrix, will sell 3 Lumix xMAP-based instruments for multiplexed assays in specific countries in the Americas, Asia, and Europe, enabling laboratories to choose a platform that fits their throughput and flexibility needs.

Together with Luminex’s MAGPIX, Luminex 200, and FLEXMAP 3D instrument platforms, Affymetrix will sell its ProcartaPlex multiplexed immunoassays and QuantiGene Plex multiplexed quantitative gene expression assays, offering complete solutions in drug discovery and development, immuno-oncology, and translational research.

All three Lumix instruments run multiplexed assays for proteins or nucleic acids, whether kit-based or lab-developed. MAGPIX is the simplest, most affordable, and most compact; it performs up to 50 different tests in a single reaction volume and reads a 96-well plate in just 60 minutes. The Luminex 200 System enables performing up to 100 different tests in a single reaction volume while using either magnetic or polystyrene microspheres. FLEXMAP 3D is the platform of choice for high-throughput applications and is capable of simultaneously measuring up to 500 genes or proteins from a small sample.

While expanding the Luminex instrument installed base, the distribution agreement will also strengthen growth and adoption of Affymetrix’ bead-based assay portfolio, which serves markets growing at double-digit rates worldwide. The agreement covers the US, Canada, Mexico, Brazil, and China as well as The Netherlands, Germany, France, UK, Switzerland, Austria, Belgium, Ireland, Luxembourg, and Poland. Financial terms were not disclosed.

“We are pleased to enter into this agreement with Luminex, the leading instrument provider supporting bead-based multiplexed assays,” said Dara Grantham Wright, senior vice president and general manager of eBioscience, “This agreement deepens our relationship with Luminex, and will provide our customers an integrated solution to access a best-in-class platform with an ever-expanding, high-quality assay menu.”

“By enabling Affymetrix to offer both Luminex multiplexing instruments and Affymetrix assays, we can further drive accessibility to customers focused on disease-related research,” said Todd Bennett, vice president, global sales and customer operations, Luminex Corporation, “We are very pleased to enter into this agreement, and to support Affymetrix in its efforts to bring flexible, high-quality solutions to laboratories.”

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