The Hindu Business Line : Agilent Tech to launch genomic solutions for biotech market

Mr Sanjay Dhar (right), Country Manager, Life Sciences and Chemical Analysis group, Agilent Technologies, with Mr John R Jaskowiak, Director, Channel Programmes, Integrated Biology Solutions, before addressing a press conference in Bangalore on Thursday. — V. Sreenivasa Murthy

Bangalore , April 21

AGILENT Technologies on Thursday said it was launching its DNA microarray-based genomic solutions in the country for the growing biotechnology market.

The company is a leading player in drug development and drug manufacturing, in the pharmaceutical segment, and in the food safety, petrochemical and environmental segments of the chemical analysis market.

The genomic foray will extend Agilent's reach to drug discovery, medical or disease research and agri biotech, according to Mr Sanjay Dhar, Country Manager for the Life Sciences & Chemical Analysis group; and Mr John Jaskowiak, Director, Channel Programmes, Integrated Biology Solutions.

The microarray market is estimated to grow by nearly 70 per cent in 2005. Agilent's life science business in India saw double-digit growth last year and this was considered its fourth largest country of life science business. "We expect this growth to continue as we launch our solutions such as genomics and proteomics research," they told a news conference.

The growth drivers riding on the new Patent Act would be fast-growing generic pharma companies; those moving pharma manufacturing to India; biopharmaceuticals, contract research bioservices, agriculture and genetic engineering.

Microarrays (also DNA chips or biochips) are slides dotted with numerous DNA strands. These chips are used to compare genetic differences between healthy and diseased cells. Such studies are useful to identify target genes while researching for target therapies or diseases such as cancer and TB or for crop improvement.

Initial business would come from Government labs, institutions and R&D-driven pharmaceutical companies. Agilent, with 2004 net revenue of $7.2-billion, generates $1.3 billion of this from life sciences.

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