TROMSØ: ArcticZymes AS has entered into a supply and distribution agreement with precision medicine company Jiangsu Simcere Diagnostics, Nanjing, China for the supply of Heat-Labile Salt Active Nuclease (HL-SAN) to be used in the development and manufacturing of Simcere’s sequencing assays.

HL-SAN is a critical component of Simcere Diagnostics’ infectious disease metagenomic assays. In particular, the nuclease supplied by ArcticZymes plays a key role in the removal of host DNA from the sample.

This results in a streamlined and efficient sample preparation process that reduces background noise from the assay. Metagenomic assays are extremely sensitive to competing background noise. Fortunately, HL-SAN’s unique capability to interact with salt provides Simcere the best host DNA removal solution available on the market.

Simcere Pharmaceutical Group, the parent of Simcere Diagnostics, is recognized as one of the “Top 10 Innovative Pharmaceutical Enterprises in China” and “Top 100 Pharmaceutical Manufacturing Enterprises in China”.

Simcere has three R&D centers including Boston in the United States and focuses on oncology, central nervous system disease, and autoimmune disease therapeutic and diagnostic areas with a diverse portfolio of products.

ArcticZymes Technologies ASA, CEO, Jethro Holter said: “We look forward to supporting Simcere Diagnostics in the development and future commercialization of their innovative sequencing assays as well as other future technologies. This is just the beginning of a long-term relationship together where ArcticZymes’ novel enzyme technologies and scientific competence will aid Simcere Diagnostics in marketing best in class sequencing technologies. The agreement marks the first step for ArcticZymes in becoming a long-term supplier of its enzymes to commercial partners in China.”

Simcere Diagnostics CEO, Yong Ren said: “Simcere Diagnostics is excited to collaborate with ArcticZymes AS. This global collaboration not only helps Simcere in the development and commercialization of its metagenomic products, it also provides our friend ArcticZymes with a market penetration opportunity to the Chinese market. We plan to work closely in the future to explore additional means to strengthen our partnership and achieve additional penetration in China.”

Founded by Simcere Pharmaceutical Group in 2017, Simcere Diagnostics is a precision medicine company based in China and led by a team of highly experienced professionals in medical genomics and informatics. Utilizing various state-of-the-art technology platforms including Next Generation Sequencing, Nanopore sequencing, MassARRAY genotyping, digital PCR, as well as advanced bioinformatics, Simcere Diagnostics is committed to fulfilling the unmet medical needs in disease diagnosis, treatment guidance, and progress monitoring via cost -effective and personalized solutions.

Simcere Diagnostics is dedicated to developing cutting-edge diagnostic products in the clinical areas of cancer, central nervous system diseases, infectious diseases, pharmacogenomics, and autoimmune disorders.

ArcticZymes develops, produces and markets novel recombinant enzymes for use in molecular research, In Vitro Diagnostics (IVD) and therapeutics.

The Company focuses on novel and high-quality enzyme technologies in growth markets where rapid technological developments are creating a strong demand for new and improved enzymes. Some of its enzymes’ unique features include heat lability and activity in challenging environments as well as customized, engineered novel features which can be integrated to power the technologies of commercial partners. All ArcticZymes products are ISO13485 certified. www.arcticzymes.com