3M Discontinues Collaboration with Gen-Probe to Develop Molecular Tests for Healthcare-Associated Infections

3M and Gen-Probe Incorporated (Nasdaq: GPRO) announced today that 3M has discontinued the companies' collaboration to develop rapid molecular tests for healthcare-associated infections (HCAIs).

The companies, which are exploring the possibility of a future marketing collaboration in this area, said the collaboration was discontinued due to current technical incompatibilities between Gen-Probe's nucleic acid testing technologies and 3M's proprietary microfluidics instrument platform.

"We intend to evaluate the merits of developing molecular tests for HCAIs to run on our next-generation automated instruments," said Steve Kondor, Gen-Probe's senior vice president of sales and marketing. "This approach, if successful, could help us develop products more rapidly, while further establishing our instrument platforms among current and future low- to mid-volume customers."

3M reaffirmed its commitment to developing and delivering products and solutions for the issues associated with HCAIs. "Our technology platforms are helping hospitals address the important issue of HCAIs," said Chuck Kummeth, vice president and general manager, 3M Medical Division. "We'll continue to offer our customers solutions that detect, prevent and control infections."

Under the terms of the discontinued agreement, Gen-Probe was responsible for assay development, which 3M funded. 3M also agreed to pay milestones to Gen-Probe based on technical and commercial progress. Gen-Probe earned the first of these milestones in the fourth quarter of 2007.

Since inventing Ioban Antimicrobial Incise Surgical Drapes more than 30 years ago, 3M has been a worldwide leader in developing healthcare products and services that assist in infection prevention and control. 3M Health Care, one of 3M's six major business segments, is dedicated to improving the practice, delivery and outcome of patient care and is a leading provider of solutions for medical, oral care, drug delivery and health information markets.

Gen-Probe Incorporated is a global leader in the development, manufacture and marketing of rapid, accurate and cost-effective nucleic acid tests (NATs) that are used primarily to diagnose human diseases and screen donated human blood. Gen-Probe has approximately 25 years of NAT expertise, and received the 2004 National Medal of Technology, America's highest honor for technological innovation, for developing NAT assays for blood screening. Gen-Probe is headquartered in San Diego and employs approximately 1,000 people.

Source: 3M