Molecular Biosystems Inc. (NYSE:MB) announced Tuesday thatits wholly owned subsidiary, Syngene Inc., has granted toAbbott Laboratories the exclusive option to acquire worldwiderights to Syngene's non-radioactive DNA probe technology forthe in vitro diagnosis of infectious diseases and cancer.Syngene's operations were discontinued as of the end ofSeptember 1992, the San Diego, company said.

Molecular Biosystems is developing contrast agents for medicalimaging, including ultrasound, MRI and CT.

(c) 1997 American Health Consultants. All rights reserved.