Roche and Lonza have entered into a distribution agreement for the commercialization of Roche’s MycoTOOL mycoplasma PCR assays. MycoTOOL detection kits are now available through Lonza for final release testing of pharmaceutical products, upon validation. Lonza also offers contract testing services using the MycoTOOL test, which is a commercial NAT-based detection system for mycoplasma biosafety testing of approved biologics.

Robert Yates, head of Roche Applied Science, said, “Lonza’s reputation for quality and customer care gives us confidence that MycoTOOL will be placed in the right applications for customers who wish to perform rapid mycoplasma testing in-house, and for those who prefer to send their samples to a qualified outside laboratory for testing.”

“Roche and Lonza share the rare combination of being both consumers and providers of pharmaceutical quality control and diagnostics products. This internal integration of user and manufacturer helps ensure products align properly with user requirements and capabilities. The unique perspective of being a user of the very products you sell provides insight unattainable from the outside looking in. We are pleased to be working with Roche in bringing this advancement to our colleagues,” said Lukas Utiger, head of Lonza BioSciences.