Two life science tools companies went public in the fall of 2018, with one ending the year with a gain in share price and the other’s price falling.

Twist Bioscience, a company providing synthesized DNA, burst out of the IPO gates this year, listing on the NASDAQ exchange in October (see IBO 11/15/18). The company’s fiscal year-end revenue ending September 30 grew 135.2% to $25.4 million (see Bottom Line), with a loss per share of $25.51, compared to $24.49 a year ago.

Bionano Genomics, which provides the Saphyr system for optical mapping genomic analysis, began trading its common stock on the NASDAQ exchange in September following an initial offering of stock warrants (see IBO 8/31/18). The stock closed the year down, having lost more than half its share price. Company cash and cash equivalents were $20.7 million as of September 30.