Beckman Instruments Will Be Sole Marketer of Designer Genes in U.S. : MEDICAL

Beckman Instruments Inc. has signed an agreement to market under its name synthetic genes manufactured by British Bio-Technology Ltd. of Oxford, England. The company said the product line of 19 so-called Designer Genes will be used by bio-researchers to develop drugs to treat diseases, including cancer and immune disorders.

Under the agreement signed in December, Fullerton-based Beckman obtained exclusive rights to market British Bio-Technology’s genes in the United States and Canada and non-exclusive rights to market them in the rest of the world, with the exception of Spain, Portugal, Italy, Switzerland and Japan. Beckman plans to start marketing the genes late next month in the United States. The genes, each the size of a grain of salt, will retail at a price of $2,500 to $5,000 each.

By purchasing the commercially manufactured genes, a Beckman marketing officer said, a researcher can save the weeks or months it would take to produce similar genes in the laboratory. The genes in turn produce proteins used in drug research and manufacturing.

Thomas E. Waller, vice president and manager of Beckman’s bio-analytical systems group, said the sales agreement “strengthens Beckman’s postion” in life sciences.