Genera teams up with Beckman Coulter, taps new CEO

Genera Biosystems (ASX:GBI) has teamed up with Beckman Coulter Life Sciences to develop molecular diagnostic assays.

Under the collaboration, the companies will work to integrate Genera’s PapType HPV assay on a Beckman Coulter flow cytometry platform.

Genera will then incorporate the Beckman Coulter instrumentation with its 6000-patient HPV screening study with the Wolfson Institute in London.

The next stages of the partnership will involve integrating Genera’s RTI-Plex and STI-Plex assays on the Beckman Coulter platform, as well as exploring expanding Genera’s AmpaSand silica microspheres technology to work on the platform.

“Genera has been in discussions with Beckman Coulter for a substantial period with a view to integrating our AmpaSand based tests with their world-leading instrumentation systems,” Genera Chairman Lou Panaccio said.

“Beckman Coulter is an ideal partner for Genera with instrumentation capabilities that are second to none.”

Genera separately announced it has appointed Richard Hannebery to the post of CEO. Hannebery was Genera’s corporate development director between 2005 and 2008, prior to the company’s ASX listing. He rejoined the board in May last year.

“It is clear that Genera now requires a dedicated CEO to further execute our clearly defined strategy to commercialise and monetise Genera’s valuable AmpaSand technology,” Panaccio commented.

“The board believes that Richard is best placed to lead the company at this time and I am delighted that he has accepted our offer to take on the CEO role.”

Genera Biosystems (ASX:GBI) shares were trading 3.64% lower at $0.265 as of around 2 pm on Friday.