Singapore: One Lambda, a Thermo Fischer scientific brand announced that it has inked a pact with Japan-based GenoDive Pharma, a leading developer of HLA primers in the world.

The agreement will provide One Lambda exclusive rights to GenoDive's long-range primers and amplification conditions for human leukocyte antigen (HLA). The primers and conditions covered in the agreement include HLA A, B, C, DRB1, DRB345, DQA1, DQB1, DPA1 and DPB1 loci.

Dr Jar-How Lee, chief scientific officer, One Lambda, said, "The next generation sequencing applications will provide medical practitioners with complete HLA gene information, thus allowing them to better match potential transplant donors with recipients."

The role of long range primers in HLA typing and their subsequent use in organ grafting was first recognized by Dr Takashi Shiina at Tokai University. Later, One Lambda and GenoDrive jointly developed and commercialized the technology.

The HLA protein regulates the human immune response and allows it to differentiate between self and non-self proteins. Hence the compatibility of HLA and HLA typing becomes important during any organ transplantation.