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Abbott and Celera in exclusive distribution deal

Celera Corp. (CRA) said it signed an exclusive distribution agreement to market its CE-marked KIF6 diagnostic test for use on Abbott’s (ABT) CE-marked m2000 instrument system. Financial details of the agreement were not disclosed. The KIF6 genotyping assay detects a genetic marker that may be used in conjunction with clinical evaluation and patient assessment for identifying individuals at risk for coronary heart disease or CHD, and in patients for whom statin treatment is being considered. Previous research has shown that a variant of the KIF6 gene is associated with up to a 55% increased risk of primary and recurrent CHD events, and that this increased risk was significantly reduced with statin therapy. "Celera’s KIF6 test represents the first cardiovascular assay on the m2000 system", comments Abbott. The deal follows the application by Celera for the CE mark in June 2010. This is the first of Celera’s proprietary cardiovascular genetics products to be CE marked. Under the 4-year agreement, Celera will manufacture the KIF6 test kit that Abbott will distribute in the European Union, other geographic areas that recognize the CE mark, and elsewhere worldwide, excluding the U.S.