Company Announcements

Illumina reduced the price of its individual genome-sequencing service in June from $19,500 to $9,500.

Fox Chase Cancer Center will use Life Technologies’ SOLiD system, the Ion Torrent sequencer and novel biological information technology systems as part of a new program to provide next-generation sequencing (NGS) analysis of solid tumors. The program includes a clinical service for the management of patients with cancer.

In June, Life Technologies announced that as part of a consortium consisting of Oxford NIHR Biomedical Research Center, AstraZeneca and Ortho Biotech Oncology Research & Development, it received a grant to develop a multi-gene NGS test, created and validated on the Ion Torrent sequencer, to provide molecular profiles of tumors in order to identify therapy options. The test will be available to the Cancer Research UK Stratified Medicine lab in early 2012 for comparison with existing technologies.

In June, BioNanomatrix opened its West Coast headquarters in San Diego, California.

Sequenom appointed Charles P. Slacik to its Board in June. He was formerly CFO at Beckman Coulter.

In July, Sequenom signed a three-year supply agreement for Illumina sequencers and consumables for use in the development of its noninvasive test to detect the overabundance of chromosome 21 in pregnant women. The companies will work collaboratively toward the submission of the test for regulatory approval.

In June, the University of Washington Department of Genome Sciences joined the Illumina Genome Network.

In June, NanoString Technologies raised $2.5 million in new financing, according to an SEC filing.

In July, LaserGen and National Instruments announced a collaboration to develop an NGS system using their respective graphical system design software and Lightning Terminators sequencing chemistry for reversible terminators. Installation of the system at a genome center for validation testing is planned for the end of the year.

Product Introductions

In June, ForteBio introduced the Dip and Read AntiMouse IgC Fc Capture (AMC) biosensor for its Octet platform. AMC biosensors can be regenerated and reused up to ten times.

Abnova and Ardic Instruments released a fiber-optic particle plasmon resonance system for label-free protein quantification in research and in vitro diagnostics.

Syngene launched the GeneGnome5 chemiluminescent imaging system for imaging Western blots.

VICAM, a Waters’s business, introduced the Vertu digital lateral flow reader for mycotoxin quantification.

In July, Applied BioCode launched the BioCode-HP Analyzer for the simultaneous detection of up to 4,096 different analytes in a single sample. It utilizes digital multiplexing technology and fluorescence detection.