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OriGene Technologies, Inc. is an American multinational, biotechnology company headquartered in Rockville, Maryland, with offices in. Its products are used in life science research and pharmaceutical development. OriGene has one of the world's largest private collection of full-length human cDNA clones, numbering over 38,000.

In the company's recent history they have acquired a number of biotechnology companies across the world.

History
OriGene was founded in 1996 and initially engaged in supplying researchers with northern blot reagents. Since then, OriGene has been focusing on becoming a 'comprehensive toolbox' for gene-based research products. In recent years, the company has put a lot of efforts in developing and commercializing products and services for pathology and In Vitro Diagnostics (IVD) markets.

Acquisitions
In 2006, OriGene entered an agreement to work alongside Cytomyx to develop new Biomarker validation technologies. The agreement meant that Cytomyx supplied characterized RNA samples of major cancers from its Biorepository. OriGene then planned to use these samples to develop new generations of their existing Rapid-Scan Gene Expression Panel product line affording to media releases at the time. It was said that the co-development would allow Origene to determine linkages between gene expression and tumor occurrence.

In 2009, OriGene acquired Marligen Biosciences. The acquisition was a further move to diversify within the gene-based tools market. Marligen Biosciences produce products for DNA and RNA purification and multiplex assays for genotyping, microRNA profiling, and transcription factor activity analysis.

In 2010, the company acquired Blue Heron Biotech LLC, which specializes in gene synthesis. Blue Heron supplies synthetic DNA to the majority of the top 20 pharma and biotech companies worldwide. It provides DNA fragments to develop the first synthetic cell for the J. Craig Venter Institute. The move also allowed OriGene to become involved in the consortium created to promote Biosecurity, which is known as International Gene Synthesis Consortium (IGSC). This was alongside DNA2.0, GeneArt, GenScript, and Integrated DNA Technologies.

In 2012, OriGene acquired Beijing Zhongshan Golden Bridge Biotechnology, with the aim to expand into the Chinese pathology market. Zhongshan provides testing products (pathology) within the Chinese domestic market, such as oncology diagnostics.

In 2013, OriGene acquired SDIX, aiming to enhance its antibody product portfolio with SDIX’s Advanced Genomic Antibody Technology™ or GAT and expand into the IVD reagent products and services market.

In 2014, OriGene acquired BioCheck, Inc., a provider of innovative immunodiagnostic test kits and custom immunoassay development for the world-wide health care and research markets. The acquisition of BioCheck expands OriGene’s IVD portfolio and capabilities for future product development, leveraging its current leading Chinese diagnostics channels.

In 2015, OriGene strengthens its antibody portfolio by acquiring Acris Antibodies GmbH. The acquisition complements OriGene's existing antibody portfolio, and expands its capabilities to better serve customers for their research antibody needs, as well as a great opportunity to meet the increasing demand from its European distributors and customers for a better and faster service.

Pathology Expansion
In an effort to expand into the pathology field, OriGene recently published a paper on a microarray technology used in testing for antibody specificity. In theory, this technology should ease fears of non-specific binding and reduce the number of false positives when pathologists grade tissues. Antibodies created and screened on this technology have been branded UltraMAB by the company.

Products
OriGene offers a variety of gene-based research products. Their biggest product of note is the number of human cDNA clones, which is the largest private collection globally. OriGene posesses 38,000 Full-length human cDNA clones and also 7,000 Full-length human proteins.

OriGene also posesses 3,000 Mouse monoclonal antibodies. Other OriGene products include 140,000 tissue products, PCR-related products, Luminex multiplex assays and RNAi products (shRNA, siRNA and miRNA).