Fluidigm Corporation (NASDAQ:FLDM) today announced that it can now offer unrestricted sales of its digital PCR and other advanced technology to customers interested in pursuing research and product development into the prenatal health and non-invasive prenatal diagnostics fields, as well as other fields. This enhanced freedom to operate comes as a result of the ending of the collaboration agreement previously reported in the company's filings with the Securities and Exchange Commission between Fluidigm and Novartis Vaccines & Diagnostics, Inc.
“We appreciate that there are significant market opportunities in these areas and there is substantial customer interest. We look forward to helping these customers achieve their research and development objectives”
Under the collaboration agreement, Fluidigm granted an exclusive option to its technology in specific areas of prenatal health and diagnostics, and Fluidigm could not sell its products or services in these fields, other than in some cases for research applications. This option has expired unexercised. Also, while the details of the collaboration remain confidential, Fluidigm can confirm that it successfully achieved all of its technical feasibility milestones in the first phase of the collaboration and, accordingly, received all milestone payments. The re-opening of previously restricted fields of use for Fluidigm products and access to significant product enhancements represent exciting opportunities for Fluidigm's customer base.