Electrochemiluminescence (ECL) technology Taehoon Noh

What is ECL technology? Luminescence produced during electrochemical reactions in solutions. Similar to chemiluminescence where one/all reactants are produced electrochemically on the electrodes. Reactive species are generated from stable precursors (i.e., the ECL-active label) at the surface of an electrode.

Chemiluminescence (CL) the emission of light (luminescence) with limited emission of heat as the result of a chemical reaction. [A] + [B] → [Intermediate] → [Products] + light The decay of the excited state [Intermediate] to a lower energy level is responsible for the emission of light.

Chemiluminescence

Electrochemiluminescence

Advantages of ECL A highly sensitive and selective method. => selectivity of bound and unbound fractions can be based on the ability of labeled species to access the electrode surface, No radioisotopes are used. Measurement is simple and rapid. The labels are extremely stable compared with those of most other chemiluminescent systems

Applications of ECL In vitro diagnostics testing. DNA-probe assays. Enzymatic biosensors.

IGEN vs. Roche In 1992, IGEN entered into a technology licensing agreement with Boehringer Mannheim (BM), which had been sold to Roche Diagnostics. For IGEN, it meant additional funding in the amount of $50 million and a 9 percent royalty, as well as grant-back rights to improvements. For BM, it meant an exclusive license to an advanced diagnostic technology in a market it had yet to penetrate.

IGEN vs. Roche cont’d BM notified IGEN that its royalties on the first $10 million in sales equipment was zero. While the agreement stipulated that the field of use was restricted to laboratories, BM had been marketing its products point-of-care facilities, such as physicians’ offices. IGEN had expressly reserved this area for its own future development.

IGEN vs. Roche cont’d Over the course of six years of litigation, IGEN had been awarded $105 million in compensatory damages and $400 million in punitive damages by a jury. Jury gave IGEN the right to terminate the agreement and further to have access to much of Roche’s own technology. Eventually, Roche had to purchase IGEN for approximately $1.5 billion in order to keep the diagnostic technology in order to service its nine-thousand customers worldwide.

Lesson Learned It would first and foremost be important to ensure that no provisions within the agreement were overly restrictive. The future is uncertain when early-stage technologies are first being developed. Limiting one’s rights to make use of the technology in fields yet to be established should be avoided.

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