NorDiag ASA and Seegene Inc, Korea have entered into an OEM agreement for the Arrow instrument and reagents. The 5 year OEM agreement has a guaranteed purchase commitment of approximately NOK 30 million with respect to instruments and reagents over the first 2,5 years.

"This agreement means that NorDiag is well on its way to reach the revenue target for the Arrow product line. As of today, signed OEM agreements cover approximately 60% of the total revenue goals for the Arrow product line until the end of 2011," says Mårten Wigstøl, CEO of NorDiag and adds:

"This agreement also gives us a foothold in Asia, which can be very interesting going forward."

The agreement includes the Arrow instrument and sample preparation reagents to be used in connection with Seegene's molecular biological assays. Seegene currently has a wide range of assay panels, where multiple pathogens can be detected simultaneously by a single test. The test panels mainly target viral and bacterial infections and include the following: Respiratory viral panels, sexually transmitted diseases panels, herpes panels, diarrhea panels, HPV, hepatitis A/B/C viral panel and a sepsis testing panel. 

Wigstøl is very satisfied with Seegene as a new partner: "We are delighted to sign this agreement with Seegene - an exciting contender in the molecular diagnostic market. They have a very good and flexible amplification and multiplex detection technology supporting their range of assays. Our technologies have a good fit, and Seegene will be able to offer customers an affordable and easy to use integrated test system and test panels.

"By entering into an agreement with NorDiag, Seegene is no longer a reagent company but now able to provide an easy to use integrated test system. We are highly confident that Seegene's multiplex assays will become more powerful and efficient diagnostic tool when used in combination with NorDiag's Arrow extraction system ", says Dr. Chun, CEO of Seegene.

Contact:
CEO Mårten Wigstøl, Phone: +47 91165775

About NorDiag:
NorDiag is a biotechnology company developing, manufacturing and marketing automated solutions (instruments and reagents) for sample preparation of DNA from difficult biological samples. DNA diagnostics give more rapid and precise answers, and are the fastest growing field within diagnostics. The Company's sample preparation solutions are today used in connection with STI, tuberculosis, MRSA, respiratory pathogens and viruses on instruments for large and small laboratories. NorDiag was founded in 2003 and has its headquarters in Oslo, Norway. The company has offices and laboratories in Stockholm, Sweden, in West Chester (PA), USA and in Vienna, Austria. The group has today 35.3 man-labour years. NorDiag is listed on Oslo Stock Exchange with ticker NORD.

For further information - www.nordiag.com.

About Seegen Inc:
Seegene, Inc. is a biotechnology company specialized in molecular diagnostics and research applications. It holds a novel detection platform named "Seeplex(R)," which sets a standard in high-throughput and simultaneous multi-pathogen  detection called "multiplexing." Seeplex(R) technology accurately detects multi-pathogens with high-throughput speed, ultimately providing the most economical basis for saving time, labor and cost. Seegene develops, manufactures and markets innovative molecular diagnostic products and services to a worldwide community. Its mission is to maintain leadership in molecular diagnostics for infectious diseases, genetics, pharmacogenetics, and oncology, and chromosomal analyses using innovative proprietary technologies.

For more information please visit www.seegene.com or call +301-762-9066.

Read the notice in Norwegian here.