Affymetrix Acquires Bead-Based Technology
Mr. King also asserted that the technology will compete with existing bead-based techniques in applications such as gene expression, genotyping and mRNA. The new system is expected to be compatible with the company’s next-generation instruments. He also noted that True Materials had plans to introduce a product in 2009 and that Affymetrix is evaluating those plans.
Santa Clara, CA 7/24/08—Affymetrix has purchased a developer of digitally encoded microparticle technology for $25 million in cash. GenomeWeb.com reports that the company is True Materials and that Randy True, the company’s vice president of R&D, has joined Affymetrix. Affymetrix stated that the technology will allow it to enter the low to mid-multiplexing markets and that the technology can be used for research, applied and diagnostic applications. On the company’s quarterly conference call, President Kevin King commented, “This proprietary new platform technology offers advantages over bead-based approaches, because it is much more scalable and cost effective. This technology uses digitally encoded microparticles that carry out assays and solution, so the tests will have shorter processing times, simplified workflows and use a minimal amount of sample.”
