LEXINGTON, Mass. & SALZBURG, Austria – RainDance Technologies, Inc., the leading provider of microdroplet-based single molecule and single cell analysis solutions, and Sony DADC Austria AG, today announced the culmination of a multi-year collaboration for the co-development and manufacture of microdroplet-based “smart consumables” for use in life science markets.

As part of this collaboration, RainDance also announced the commercial release of its new HeatWave™ chip, the first microdroplet-based consumable developed using the Sony DADC Optical Disc technology for high-precision and high-volume manufacturing. Financial terms of the agreement were not disclosed.

Capable of performing sophisticated, high-throughput and high-precision microdroplet manipulations on-chip without moving parts or valves, the polymer-based HeatWave chip was designed by RainDance for use on its RDT 1000 instrument. As a single-use consumable, the HeatWave chip builds on the success of RainDance’s existing polydimethylsiloxane (PDMS) design and provides a consistent, scalable and simple workflow for life science research applications, such as targeted next-generation sequencing, rare cancer mutation detection and genetic screening.

“Sony DADC is pleased to collaborate with RainDance to further advance the application of smart consumables in next-generation products and position our OEM business for long-term success in the life sciences and diagnostics markets,” said Dieter Daum, President and CEO of Sony DADC. “Sony DADC’s ISO13485 environment, Design for Manufacturing competence, polymer manufacturing and industrial scale production capabilities are well aligned with RainDance’s requirements for economically supplying high volumes of robust and reliable consumables at the highest quality.”

The RainStorm™ technology that powers the RainDance RDT 1000 is based on the manipulation of picoliter-volume droplets within the micro-channels of a disposable polymer chip. Each HeatWave chip is capable of rapidly performing precise operations, such as generating, merging and delivering microdroplets. The chips can be easily adapted and customized for a broad range of applications and workflows for current and future RainDance products.

“Our novel HeatWave chip represents a significant leap forward in microfluidics design and capabilities, providing our customers with a powerful, simple and precise platform to perform sophisticated operations,” said Roopom Banerjee, President and CEO of RainDance. “Our collaboration with Sony DADC is another example of our commitment to working with best-in-class partners to deliver the most innovative, robust and cost-effective solutions to our global base of customers.”

The new HeatWave chip supports all of the current RDT 1000 commercial applications, including targeted and ultra-deep sequencing, as well as the recently announced line of comprehensive genetic research screening panels: ADMESeq™, ASDSeq™, XSeq™ and HLASeq™.

For more information about RainDance and its products, please visit, www.RainDanceTech.com.

About RainDance Technologies

RainDance Technologies is pioneering the use of high-throughput microdroplet-based analysis in human health and life science research. The company’s core RainStorm™ technology generates millions of discrete droplets that can encapsulate a single molecule, cell or reaction and be digitally analyzed and sorted one at a time. The power, precision and simplicity of microdroplets enable researchers to answer complex questions with unprecedented sensitivity and quantification. The complete RainDance solution includes automated instrumentation, customizable bioinformatics and high-value consumables and reagents for applications including targeted next-generation DNA sequencing, methylation, digital PCR and single cell analysis. Based in Lexington, Massachusetts, the company supports scientists around the world through its international sales and support operations and a global network of distributors and service providers. For more information, please visit www.RainDanceTech.com.

About Sony DADC

Sony DADC is a leading disc and digital service provider for the entertainment, education and information industries, offering world-class digital and physical supply chain solutions and software services. Building on the company’s experience in high-precision manufacturing, its mass production capability and supply chain expertise, Sony DADC’s BioSciences division partners with Life Sciences and Diagnostics companies enabling the industrial manufacturing of smart consumables.

Sony DADC’s global set-up comprises production sites, distribution hubs, digital and service facilities in 19 countries worldwide, including Japan, the US and Europe. For more information please visit www.sonydadc.com.

HeatWave, RainStorm, ADMESeq, ASDSeq, XSeq and HLASeq are trademarks of RainDance Technologies, Inc.