French-based IVD company Theradiag said it’s looking to strengthen its market position in theranostics and autoimmune disease treatment with its recent acquisition of a business unit that specializes in microRNA technology. The company, Prestizia, has been developing the technology as a subsidiary of Holding Incubatrice Biotechnology and Pharmacy. Prestizia said the technology recognizes the signatures of microRNA, which are circulating molecules that regulate the expression of DNA and proteins. Modification of microRNA expression in diseases such as AIDS and cancer make the molecules strong diagnostic biomarkers, according to Theradiag.

"The acquisition of Prestizia represents a major advance for Theradiag,” says Michel Finance, Theradiag’s CEO. “Its microRNA platform is going to allow us to strengthen our development in theranostics with a highly innovative, patented technology."

Prestizia has been collaborating with the University of Montepellier 2 and le Centre nationale de la recherche scientifique in Paris. It received an exclusive worldwide license on a patent for a method of characterizing HIV cell tropism. Theradiag said it is focusing on theranostics with the goal of improving monitoring for biologic treatments for autoimmune diseases in particular.

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---John Conroy