Company Announcements

QuantuMDx Group received an exclusive license in October to several Nanosys patents and patent applications related to the use of nanostructures for biosensors, including field effect transistors biosensors, for the use for DNA sequencing and detecting nucleic acid biomarkers associated with disease.

In October, Fluidigm appointed Research Instruments/RI Technologies as its distributor in Singapore and Thailand.

In October, Bio-IT World reported that Life Technologies made an undisclosed strategic investment in Genia, which is developing a nanopore-based sequencer that uses an integrated circuit for single-molecule detection.

In October, Life Technologies launched the 3500 Dx Series Genetic Analyzers for in vitro diagnostics use in China. The company submitted the instrument and its SeCore HLA Sequencing System for FDA approval in August 2011.

PathoGenetix announced in November the receipt of $7.5 million in the second closing of its Series B financing to support development of its Genome Sequencing Scanning technology for bacterial strain identification. The Series B round totaled $11.5 million.

In November, Siemens Healthcare Diagnostics and Illumina entered into a partnership for clinical infectious disease testing. The companies plan to make existing Siemens molecular HIV tests compatible with Illumina’s MiSeq sequencer and to introduce new sequencing-based infectious disease assays.

NanoString announced in November the closing of a $20 million Series D round of equity financing. New investors include GE’s healthyimagination Fund.

In November, Pacific Biosciences named Millennium Science its sole distributor for Australia and New Zealand.

Product Introductions

Metrohm Autolab discontinued its SPR system in October as part of an effort by the company to refocus on its core products. Support for existing customers will continue.

In October, GE Healthcare launched the Typhoon FLA 9500 system for the imaging of multifluorescent-, chemifluorescent- and radioisotope-labeled samples and colorimetric samples. The company also launched the Typhoon FLA 7000 IP for radioisotope-labeled samples.

Bio-Rad Laboratories introduced the new PROTEAN i12 IEF (isoelectric focusing) System, which is designed to simultaneously run up to 12 immobilized pH gradient strips in 12 independently programmed lanes.

In November, LI-COR Biosciences released the Odyssey CLx Infrared Imaging System, featuring a new autoscan function that offers a dynamic range greater than six logs.