PREMIER Biosoft and MRC-Holland form an alliance

PREMIER Biosoft International, a leading bioinformatics company, and MRC-Holland, the inventors of MLPA® technology, announced an alliance. Multiplex Ligation-dependent Probe Amplification (MLPA®) is a method to establish the copy number of up to 45 nucleic acid sequences in a single reaction. Detecting copy number changes in the genome, the primary application of MLPA® technology, is a widely researched area. Current efforts are directed towards more comprehensive cataloging and characterization of these changes. MLPA® probes are able to discriminate between sequences that differ by just one nucleotide, making them a highly sensitive and precise tool for detecting the changes. It is rapidly becoming the most favored among the currently used methods.

The alliance will help MLPA® users design custom oligos for genes that do not have kits available. Currently, no such design tool exists. "With this collaboration, both PREMIER Biosoft and MRC-Holland will use their core competencies and expertise to develop a powerful bioinformatics tool for MLPA® users." commented Kay Brown, V.P. Business Development and Marketing.

About PREMIER Biosoft International:
Founded in 1994, the company is a group of computer scientists and molecular biologists dedicated to producing cutting-edge intuitive software for the molecular biologist. The goal of the company is to study the most recent innovations in molecular biology and translate them into software products that aid biologists. Additional information about PREMIER Biosoft International is available at http://www.PremierBiosoft.com

About MRC-Holland
MRC-Holland published its first article about MLPA® technology in 2002 and since then, its product range has grown explosively. The company now offers well over a 100 different MLPA® tests for a wide range of applications, from rare genetic diseases to tumor analysis. MRC-Holland aims to make the MLPA® technology available to all scientists and works in close collaboration with researchers around the world. More information about MRC-Holland can be found on www.MLPA.com.


Contact:
Arun Apte
PREMIER Biosoft International
650-856-2703
http://www.PremierBiosoft.com