Overview

Founded in 1993, Nanogen integrates advanced microelectronics and molecular biology into a platform technology capable of aiding in diagnosis, genomics and drug discovery. Its principal product is the NanoChip Molecular Biology Workstation. NanoChip workstations are designed to automate DNA analysis using electronically accelerated hybridization techniques to eliminate problems with DNA conformation and secondary structures.

The workstation can be used to study functional genomics and to understand the correlation between genetic variation and disease. The company is developing the workstation to aid in analysis of gene expression and in multiplying target gene sequences to allow researchers to analyze minute amounts of genetic material.

The company has developed and internally validated research protocols for the detection of the Factor II and Factor V Leiden gene mutations, a multiplexed format Factor II/Factor V gene mutation combination, and the MTHFR gene mutation, all associated with cardiovascular disease.

Partners

Nanogen has a partnership with RationalDiagnostics LLC, of Seattle, to expand the applications of the NanoChip Molecular Biology Workstation to develop a gene-based microarray designed as a diagnostic for a number of lymphomas. The company also has an agreement with Variagenics Inc., of Cambridge, Mass., granting Nanogen patent rights to Variagenics' methylenetetrahydrofolate reductase for the assessment of thrombo-embolic disease risk.

Nanogen Inc., of San Diego, and Aventis Research & Technologies GmbH & Co. KG, of Frankfurt, Germany, formed Nanogen Recognomics GmbH to develop products and applications for the NanoChip System based on Aventis' intellectual property and synthetic oligonucleotide technology.