Promega Corporation has entered a strategic partnership with Watchmaker Genomics to license a newly engineered reverse transcriptase. Built for higher sensitivity and precision in RNA analysis, this enzyme strengthens Promega’s ability to deliver both catalog and custom solutions for clinical, applied, and pharmaceutical molecular applications.
“Watchmaker’s enzyme offers a combination of attributes that establish a new benchmark for reverse transcriptase performance,” says Sara Mann, VP of Commercial Excellence at Promega. “By incorporating it into our portfolio, we are giving customers a powerful tool for improved accuracy and enhanced sensitivity of RNA-based assays.”
The partnership also marks the start of a broader collaboration, with both companies aiming to advance next-generation enzyme technologies that address evolving demands in molecular diagnostics and life science research.
Developed using Watchmaker’s proprietary protein engineering platform, the reverse transcriptase builds on the design principles behind its NGS reagent portfolio. It offers significant performance advantages, including:
High thermostability for efficient cDNA synthesis at elevated temperatures
Strong inhibitor tolerance for complex or challenging samples
Improved processivity to enhance sensitivity in detecting low-abundance targets
This enzyme will meaningfully improve the accuracy and reliability of RNA analysis in diagnostic and research labs,” says Brian Kudlow, Chief Scientific Officer of Watchmaker Genomics. “This collaboration showcases the power of our enzyme engineering platform to deliver specialized genomics solutions.”
With this agreement, Promega expands its nucleic acid analysis portfolio by introducing a reverse transcriptase designed to deliver the sensitivity, robustness, and reproducibility needed for modern clinical, applied, and pharma/biotech applications.