PROGEN Biotechnik
PROGEN Biotechnologie GmbH
PROGEN Biotechnik GmbH, a 100% subsidiary of november AG, is manufacturer of in-vitro diagnostic test kits in the areas of infectious diseases, e.g. hanta virus, TBE (tick-borne encephalitis) and haeophilus influenzae B and of research reagents for cell biology, pathology and biomedical research. Included in the range of research products are antibodies for cell and tissue differentiation as well as novel antibodies for cell and lipid metabolism. PROGEN is collaborating with State research institutes, developing titration ELISAs of adeno-associated viruses of serogroups 1, 2 and 5 which are employed in the areas of gene therapy and functional gene analysis. PROGEN also offers specialized products for molecular biology research suitable for the phage display technology, including vectors, phagemid cassettes, primer sets, and the helper phage “hyperphage”.
In addition to the ELISA and immunofluorescence test kits for laboratory diagnostics, PROGEN offers new multiplex assays based on the Luminex™ bead technology, e.g. test kits for Borrelia diagnostics and for typing human papillomaviruses (HPVs).
directif GmbH (now PROGEN Biotechnik GmbH)
directif GmbH developed worldwide the first system for fully automatic nucleic acid diagnostics at the point-of-care, independent from any laboratory. In the future, with this new technology it is intended to directly detect pathogens and genetic predispositions in the doctor´s office or at the hospital bed. This system consists of a disposable cartridge, manufactured in the very cost-efficient injection-moulding technology, which combines all different steps for sample analysis which are presently carried out individually in the laboratory , e.g. isolation of nucleic acid, amplification, detection. An analyzer produces the results of samples within a two- hour period.
Independent from the merger with PROGEN Biotechnik GmbH, research and development activities of the directif GmbH are continued. The available synergies and similarities in the areas of multiplex technologies and infectious disease diagnostics are expected to produce positive results in the ongoing development work.