Source BioScience (LSE: SBS), the international diagnostics and genetic analysis business of the United Kingdom, and DNAFORM, a Japanese provider of genomic products and services, announce the launch of the Japanese version of Source BioScience’s GenomeCube® database and webstore.

GenomeCube® provides access to a portfolio of 20 million DNA clones and antibodies for research purposes. With the launch of the Japanese version, local research scientists will be able to access DNA clones representing nearly every known human and mouse gene, in addition to many genes from most model organisms important for biological research.

Dr Nick Ash, CEO of Source BioScience, commented: “Source BioScience has invested over £1 million in GenomeCube® to create a single, intelligent portal enabling ready access to our entire product portfolio.

GenomeCube® enables us to collaborate with international franchise partners to create a global network able to access our unique portfolio. Working together with DNAFORM, our long-standing partner in Japan, we are delighted to be able to launch the first country-specific version of GenomeCube® to the Japanese life sciences research community. In the near future, we will be expanding the database to include over 7,000 research antibodies specifically targeted for the Japanese research market.”

Mr Hirofumi Ujita, CEO of DNAFORM, added: “For DNAFORM, the relationship with Source Bioscience has been very important. We have worked together closely for many years providing access to genomic services to the Japanese research community, using resources from the RIKEN Omics Science Center in Japan and from Source Bioscience in the UK. We see the launch of the Japanese GenomeCube® platform as a great step forward to provide better, faster services and additional products to our customers in Japan. We are committed to further improving these offerings to become Japan’s leading provider of genomic services.”