Company Announcements

Molecular Loop Biosolutions, a company specializing in advanced sample preparation solutions and data analysis for NGS, acquired Good Start Genetics’ molecular inversion probe–based DNA targeting and analysis technology in October from Invitae. The IP covers the full NGS sample workflow and is designed to produce high-quality variant and copy number calls from genomic DNA via a streamlined approach.

Phase Genomics, a provider of Hi-C proximity-ligation-based genomic solutions, named in October six distributors for Asia Pacific: Filgen Biosciences & Nanosciences for Japan, Genetimes Technology and Genosys for China, Integrated Sciences for Australia and New Zealand, Phyzen for South Korea, and Sciencewerke for Singapore, Malaysia and Indonesia.

In November, IntegraGen, a company specializing in interpretable genomic analysis, announced a collaboration with Google Cloud for the implementation of its SIRIUS and MERCURY tools.

Genomic data management and analytics firm BC Platforms agreed in November with Nashville Biosciences, a subsidiary of Vanderbilt University (VU0 Medical Center, to make summary data about the BioVU clinico-genomic research databases available through its global biobank platform, BCRQUEST.com.

In November, BC Platforms entered into a research collaboration with the UK’s national biobanking platform to enable clinical and genetic data to be integrated. The biobanking platform is hosted by the University of Nottingham’s UKCRC Tissue Directory and Coordination Center. The collaboration will involve BC Platforms opening up its connector technology across the biobanking platform in order to develop an open standard that can be utilized and reimplemented by any accredited party.

In December, BC Platforms partnered with Medaffcon, a company specialized in generating real world evidence for health-related decision-making. The partnership will focus on harmonizing complex genomic and clinical data from multiple sources applying joint specialist knowledge and technological capabilities.

Norgen Biotek, which focuses primarily on nucleic acid and protein stabilization and purification products and services, joined Illumina’s Propel Certification Program for NGS service providers in November.

In December, OnRamp BioInformatics announced it is working with Active Motif to improve accuracies in data analysis for ChIP-Seq experiments.

The China National GeneBank, BGI Research and Macquarie University of Australia signed a cooperation agreement in November to jointly promote scientific research and education in synthetic biology. They will focus on natural products synthesis and bacterial transformation research.

In November, Japan-based Quantum Biosystems closed a series C financing round of $8.9 million through the sale of preferred stock to SBI Investment. Quantum Biosystems is developing a novel, single-molecule sequencing technology that will significantly reduce the cost of sequencing.

In November, HTG Molecular Diagnostics established a French subsidiary. HTG also created an application incubator laboratory in Sausheim, France.

Product Introductions

Rheonix introduced in November the OnePrep solution, an integrated, automated method for DNA extraction and NGS library preparation using its Encompass Optimum workstation. The NGS OnePrep solution streamlines the separate and distinct processes of nucleic acid extraction and NGS library preparation on a single instrument.

In November, Arima Genomics announced the full commercial launch of its Arima-HiC technology. The Arima-HiC sample preparation kit features a six hour protocol that enables detection of long-range chromatin interactions that can be used across multiple applications. It can generate high-quality Hi-C libraries from less than 100,000 cells, depending on the application.

Biomatters released in November Geneious Prime 2019, which includes significantly enhanced capability for primer-design commercial organizations.

In November, Genomenon published the first Cited Variant Reference (CVR), containing over 3.7 million genomic variants found in medical literature.

Swift Biosciences introduced in November the Normalase Kit, an enzymatic library normalization product that streamlines the steps following NGS library preparation in a two-step workflow. The technology represents Swift’s first foray beyond library preparation.

In November, QIAGEN released a new workflow for the QIAGEN Clinical Insight (QCI) Interpret bioinformatics solution for hematological malignancies, and the new QIAact Myeloid DNA UMI Panel for myeloid neoplasm research for use with QIAGEN’s GeneReader NGS System.

In December, Igenbio, maker of the ERGO 2.0 software for sequence-quality assessments and annotation, expanded its variant analysis service offerings.

Cellecta released in December five DriverMap Predesigned RNA-Seq Panels. Each panel measures expression levels of over 1,200 expertly curated essential genes.

In December, Lexogen launches the v2 upgrade of its TeloPrime Full- Length cDNA Amplification Kit, an all-in-one protocol for generating 5′ cap-specific full-length cDNA from as little as 1 ng of total RNA. The new TeloPrime V2 Kits provide higher yields and enhanced representation of longer cDNAs.

Sales and Orders of Note

In December, genomic services provider TATAA Biocenter announced the expansion of its NGS offerings with the addition of a HTG Molecular Diagnostics’ HTG EdgeSeq system.

In December, Geneious Biologics, an enterprise software solution provider for companies engaged in screening of antibodies and antibody-like molecules, announced that CRO FairJourney Biologics selected its enterprise software solutions. Geneious Biologics stated it was selected by FairJourney Biologics for its ability to automate analysis and QC with accurate identification of relevant regions, sequence liabilities, errors and frame shifts.