HTG and CRL Form Partnership
HTG, Inc., provider of the quantitative Nuclease Protection Assay (qNPA™) and service partner for the life sciences industry, and Clinical Reference Laboratory, Inc. (CRL Global Services), provider of testing
services for toxicology, molecular diagnostics, clinical trials, bioanalytics, and insurance today
announced they signed a multi-year agreement. Under the terms of the agreement, CRL Global
Services will provide CLIA certified laboratory services for HTG’s pharmaceutical, biotech and
academic clients.
HTG’s quantitative nuclease protection assay (qNPA™) is an automated assay that allows
researchers to quickly and accurately measure gene expression levels of mRNA and miRNA in
cells, blood, saliva and tissues with minimal hands-on time. Using HTG’s reagent kits and
equipment, CRL Global Services will evaluate samples or sample plates using HTG’s qNPA
ArrayPlate technology in their CLIA laboratory.
“Collaborating with CRL Global Services was a natural fit for HTG. CRL Global Services has a
strong, long-standing reputation for providing state-of-the-art CLIA testing services. In forging
this relationship, HTG is now able to offer our pharmaceutical, biotech and academic customers
a more seamless and comprehensive service offering,” said TJ Johnson, president and CEO,
HTG. “HTG’s clients are focused on stewarding gene signatures from the research laboratory to
the clinic and CRL Global Services brings a level of expertise in analysis of data that is optimal
for the FDA submission step of the process.”
“CRL Global Services is pleased to be the CLIA-certified laboratory service provider for HTG’s
qNPA technology,” said Tim Sotos, Chairman and CEO of CRL Global Services. “This
collaboration leverages CRL Global Services’ core competency as a leading service provider
and HTG’s robust technology.”
CRL Global Services’ Executive Director of Molecular Diagnostics, Dr. Heather Newkirk said,
“this unique technology from HTG enables a customized gene expression product which
partners well with CRL Global Services’ expertise in offering quality molecular services. We
look forward to working with HTG to provide qNPA services to customers world-wide.”
HTG’s assay technology will be exhibited at CRL Global Services’ Booth #626 at the Molecular
Medicine Tri-Conference in San Francisco from February 25-27, 2009. In addition, Bruce
Seligmann, Ph.D., Founder, Board Member and Chief Science Officer, VP R&D, HTG will be
presenting a talk, “New Generation Predictive Multiplexed Gene Expression Diagnostics: Case
Studies in Non-Hodgkin’s Lymphoma” on Thursday, February 26 at 4:00 p.m.
HTG’s qNPA technology is used to carry out quantitative, multiplexed gene-based drug
discovery programs, including target validation; HTS lead optimization, metabolism, toxicology
and clinical development. HTG’s platform is highly flexible and designed automation-friendly; it
allows scientists to test any sample, including fixed tissues, without RNA extraction or target
amplification. The technology is ideal for detecting small, yet important changes in gene
expression levels which other gene expression platforms cannot reliably detect.
CRL Global Services will offer the qNPA technology as a service to HTG clients in CRL’s CLIAcertified
Molecular Diagnostics laboratory beginning spring 2009.
About HTG
Privately-held HTG is based in Tucson, Arizona. Investors in the company include Solstice
Capital, Valley Ventures, Merck Capital Ventures, Village Ventures and Arcturus Capital.
Additional information is available at www.htgenomics.com.
About Clinical Reference Laboratory, Inc (CRL Global Services)
Established in 1979, CRL Global Services is a privately held reference laboratory in Lenexa,
Kansas offering leading-edge testing services in the areas of Clinical Trials, Corporate Wellness
Programs, Genomics, Insurance, Molecular Diagnostics, BioAnalytics and Toxicology. CRL is
one of the largest single-site laboratories in the country and analyzes over 80 million tests
annually. Additional information is available at www.crlcorp.com.
