Head-hunter Katie Davis is consistently keeping up to date with the latest news within the biotech industry, whether that be funding news, acquisitions, spin outs and expansions, legal updates, layoffs and restructuring, collaborations or general product updates. In this blog, we explore the latest updates throughout the month of May. You can subscribe to Katies biotech funding updates over on LinkedIn to keep up to date with the ever-growing biotech market.
Acquisitions, spin-outs and expansions
Akoya Biosciences, Inc., which had previously agreed to be acquired by Quanterix, is now evaluating an unsolicited all-cash buyout offer from an unnamed third party. The offer proposes $1.40 per share, valuing the company at a minimum of $69.83 million based on its 49.9 million outstanding common shares as of April 30.
CellBio Scientific has acquired BioChain Institute, Inc., a CellBio Scientific Company, a leader in biospecimen collection and analysis. This move enhances CellBio’s capabilities in life science tools, research services, and clinical solutions, aligning with the industry’s shift toward human-relevant models in drug discovery. The combined platform aims to meet rising demand for innovative and translational research solutions.
GeneDx announced the successful completion of its acquisition of Fabric Genomics.
Waters Corporation announced that it has acquired Halo Labs™, an innovator of specialized imaging technologies to detect, identify, and count interfering materials (particles) in therapeutic products, such as cell, protein, and gene therapies.
Regeneron announced a new license agreement to deploy Telesis Bio’s revolutionary Gibson SOLA™ platform at its R&D core facilities. They also announced it has been named the successful bidder in the bankruptcy auction for substantially all of the assets of 23andMe.
Regeneron intends to acquire 23andMe’s Personal Genome Service® (PGS), Total Health and Research Services business lines, together with its Biobank and associated assets, for $256 million and for 23andMe to continue all consumer genome services uninterrupted.
Datavant, a leading health data platform company, announced that it has signed an agreement to acquire Aetion, a leading real-world evidence platform that powers critical decision-making in healthcare.
Mapmygenome – Know Yourself has acquired Microbiome Insights Inc., a Canadian provider of microbiome sequencing and analysis services.
QIAGEN announced that it has acquired genomics software firm GENOOX for $70 million in cash and potential additional milestone payments of up to $10 million. The Genoox portfolio includes Franklin, a clinical decision support platform for genetic diseases.
Roche announced plans to invest up to $550 million in its Diagnostics site in Indianapolis by 2030. The site will become a major hub for the manufacturing of Roche’s continuous glucose monitoring systems.
Sanofi opens new, $130 million NJ offices in Morristown, showcasing innovative, modern design and strengthening US presence
Integrated DNA Technologies (IDT) is launching an innovation hub at its Redwood City site to support the Bay Area biotech cluster. The center will foster collaboration, strategic partnerships, and R&D with local biotechnology companies.
Legal updates
Bruker and 10x Genomics have reached a final settlement to resolve their patent disputes and dismiss multiple litigations, with global patent cross license agreements between the two companies. 10x announced that Bruker will pay it $68 million upfront under the agreement, as well as ongoing royalties.
Illumina is suing Element Biosciences, they are accusing Element of infringing on five of its patents covering flow cell and imaging technologies used in automated genetic sequencing.
Molecular diagnostics firm Agendia, Knoxville Comprehensive Breast Center, and Knoxville Dermatopathology Laboratory have agreed to pay more than $3.75 million combined to resolve allegations of fraud, the US Attorney’s Office for the Eastern District of Tennessee said.
Collaborations and partnerships
TRUPCR Europe announced a partnership with Medical Supply Company (MSC)in Ireland.
OmicsDiscoveries announced a partnership with MGZ – Medical Genetics Center, in which they will offer a full-service pipeline — from sample to medically validated report — powered by OmicsDiscoveries’ RNA vision platform and backed by MGZ’s clinical expertise.
ZEISS Group and Alpenglow Biosciences announced that they are partnering to develop an inverted light-sheet microscope and bioinformatics pipeline.
AbTherx announced a collaboration with Single Cell Technology Inc. and Vaccinex. AbTherx and Single Cell Technology will use Vaccinex’s ActivMAb® Technology in their workflows to address complex drug targets.
PacBio partnered with Chulalongkorn University to implement PacBio HiFi whole genome sequencing as part of a newborn screening research program in Thailand. The team also partnered with Haorui Gene to distribute and expand access to PacBio’s HiFi long-read sequencing technology in China.
Ontario Institute for Cancer Research has become a Certified Service Provider for Ultima Genomics‘ UG100 and is ready to accept samples
ZayaAI has integrated Paige‘s AI diagnostic models into its LIS to improve diagnostic efficiency and streamline cancer pathology workflows.
Twist Bioscience has expanded collaboration with Element Biosciences to enable Element’s AVITI systems and Trinity flowcells with additional Twist library prep and target enrichment workflows and acquired licenses and intellectual property for certain long DNA synthesis and other technology and related reagents as part of a renegotiated contract with Ginkgo Bioworks, Inc.
Psomagen a multiomics service laboratory serving academic, pharma, biotech, and clinical customers, has been selected as a key service provider for the Chan Zuckerberg Initiative‘s Billion Cells Project.
Vizgen and Hamamatsu Photonics Europe have partnered on spatial biology workflows. The firms will integrate MoxiePlex multiplex immunofluorescence imaging system with InSituPlex assays.
Newomics, Inc. and MRM Proteomics Europe GmbH have entered a comarketing and collaboration agreement to combine their proteomics and metabolomics expertise, integrating MRM’s assays and services with Newomics’ mass spectrometry tools.
Alamar Biosciences, Inc. and SciLifeLab have formed a strategic collaboration to advance translational proteomics and biomarker discovery, combining Alamar’s NULISA technology and Argo HT instrument with SciLifeLab’s proteomic resources, including the Human Protein Atlas.
Illumina has expanded its partnership with Pillar Biosciences Incorporated to offer the FDA approved Pillar OncoReveal CDx assay.
QIAGEN has entered into a commercial partnership and comarketing agreement with ID SOLUTIONS to expand the availability of dPCR assays for oncology research applications.
Roche has inked a strategic partnership with Broad Clinical Labs to develop research and clinical applications for Roche’s recently unveiled SBX technology.
Tempus AI has partnered with Verastem Oncology to develop a companion diagnostic test for an ovarian cancer combination treatment. The team also partnered with Boehringer Ingelheim for a multiyear strategic collaboration to advance cancer therapeutic research and development.
Synoligo Biotechnologies Inc has partnered with Lumiphore Inc. to deliver luminescent oligonucleotide probes to the nucleic acid amplification testing market.
SISCAPA Assay Technologies and Biognosys announced an exclusive collaboration to offer biopharma customers protein measurement services spanning all parts of the drug development & discovery process.
Gene Solutions signed a memorandum of understanding (MoU) with NEWCL Biomedical Laboratory to establish a next-generation sequencing lab in Taiwan.
Basepair Inc signed an agreement to offer its cloud-based NGS analysis platform in Japan in partnership with Tokyo-based life sciences tools company IWAI Chemicals Company Ltd. .
RyboDyn Inc. expanded a partnership with the Moffitt Cancer Center to develop immunotherapies targeting cancer-related proteins identified through RyboDyn’s RyboCypher target discovery platform.
Targeted Genomics announced a commercial collaboration with OraSure Technologies, Inc. for direct-to-consumer celiac disease testing using the OraCollect-Dx saliva collection device and GlutenID test.
RevoluGen Ltd and ProteoQuest Technology said on Tuesday that they have entered into a distribution agreement for the Fire Monkey high molecular weight (HMW) DNA extraction kits across China, Hong Kong, and Taiwan.
GRAIL has partnered with athenahealth to integrate ordering of Grail’s Galleri multi-cancer early detection test into the AthenaCoordinator Core laboratory ordering service software.
Nanyang Biologics and Precisya have partnered to screen natural compounds using genomic data analysis methods and identify new therapeutic applications in chronic diseases
GenNext Technologies has partnered with Thermo Fisher Scientific to develop streamlined protein structural analysis workflows.
Nuclera has struck a series of distribution agreements covering certain Asian-Pacific and Middle Eastern markets. The team also collaborated with Cytiva to accelerate the production, purification and characterization of proteins required for drug research and development.
Mission Bio has partnered with Integrated DNA Technologies to develop a workflow to detect on- and off-target effects of genome editing.
The University of Pittsburgh School of Medicine has partnered with Vizzhy, an India-based healthcare software firm, to create a new AI-based platform for precision medicine.
Scipher Medicine has entered into a strategic partnership with InnoSIGN to identify biomarkers and inform the development of therapeutics for immune-mediated diseases.
Illumina announced a collaboration with Ovation to sequence the genomes of 25k patients who have received treatment with GLP-1 receptor agonists, such as Ozempic (semaglutide).
Morpho Biotech has signed an agreement to distribute SENSOQUEST‘s Labcycler line of thermocyclers in certain European markets
IMU Biosciences adopts Curiox Biosystems’ pluto workstation for large-scale UK immune profiling initiative
Product updates
The TRUPCR® DPYD Mutation Detection Kit by TRUPCR Europe is now available with advanced analysis software for seamless and accurate data interpretation.
MESO SCALE DIAGNOSTICS, LLC. launched the Booster Pack A assay development tool enables the development of immunoassays with improved signals using the MSD platform. Assay sensitivity can increase up to 10-fold with this pack. The Booster Pack A assay development tool has been validated on custom singleplex assays run on streptavidin plates.
SeqOne launched SomaHemato, a comprehensive hematology analysis application on the SeqOne Platform, featuring a powerful module engineered for accurate and reliable IGHV mutational status determination for CLL.
Bruker launched timsOmni™ – a next-gen timsTOF mass spectrometer offering deep structural insights into proteoforms and oligonucleotides for research, drug discovery, clinical, and QC use. The team also launched timsMetabo – a high-performance 4D-Metabolomics™ system delivering exceptional sensitivity, separation, and annotation for small molecules, powered by the new TIMS ‘MoRE’ scan mode.
Revvity’s EUROIMMUN announced the launch of its new IDS i20™ analytical random access platform, enabling full automation of chemiluminescence immunoassays.
Lexogen launched the miRVEL Discovery Small RNA-Seq Library Prep Kit, an advanced solution for sRNA discoveries, with an optimized protocol for low-input biofluid samples such as blood & plasma.
Gator Bio unveils new GeneSwift reagents, which are redefine genome titer and integrity determination, delivering unmatched speed, simplicity, and precision compared to traditional ddPCR-based assays.
Ansa Biotechnologies, Inc. announced the launch of its 50 kb DNA synthesis early access program, providing customers with extremely long and complex DNA sequences in less than four weeks.
Seerlaunched its new Proteograph® Product Suite, featuring the Proteograph ONE Assay and SP200 Automation Instrument—an advanced solution for scalable, high-resolution, mass spec-based proteomics.
Opentrons Labworks Inc. and Neochromosome, Inc. have launched the Flex neoSwitch Workstation, combining Opentrons’ automation with Neo’s neoSwitch™ antibody discovery technology to enable faster, scalable, in-house antibody development.
Tixomics introduced Celtix™ a next-generation computational software built for precision, flexibility, and intuitive exploration of high-dimensional spatial omics data.
Tecan announced that it has expanded its collaboration with HP to launch the Duo Digital Dispenser™ — a powerful new solution that combines single-cell and reagent dispensing in one streamlined system.
Nomic Bio announced the launch of its Omni 1000 product, an assay measuring 1,000 plasma proteins spanning every level 0 reactome pathway, all major MeSH disease classes, and pharma-critical KEGG pathways. The product is available as a service with pricing as low as $50 per sample.
Agilent Technologies launched Seahorse XF Flex Analyzer – a 24-well system advancing real-time metabolic analysis in 3D tissue and organoid models. They also launched Agilent 8850 GC upgrades – now compatible with single/triple quadrupole MS and tools to boost lab productivity.
AminoChain announced the availability of the AminoChain Specimen Center, a feature-packed platform designed to revolutionize how biosamples are discovered, licensed, and managed.
Lightcastannounced the limited commercial release of its Envisia™ benchtop platform — a droplet-based, single-cell functional analysis system designed to accelerate antibody discovery and development.
OmniAb, Inc. launched the xPloration Partner Access Program, allowing current partners to buy the xPloration instrument. This proprietary, high-throughput platform uses AI and machine learning to greatly improve antibody discovery and development.
Panome Bio has added transcriptional profiling to its suite of discovery tools. The full-service RNA-seq workflow is ideal for biomarker discovery and mechanism of action studies, and can be integrated with the company’s metabolomics and proteomics assays.
Cytek Biosciences launched the Aurora Evo Flow Cytometer, a full-spectrum flow cytometer that improves on the company’s flagship Cytek Aurora system.
Thermo Fisher Scientific launched the Invitrogen Attune Xenith Flow Cytometer, which uses the company’s core acoustic focusing technology to accelerate sample analysis while maintaining sensitivity.
NeoGenomics Laboratoriesintroduced its PanTracer family of genomic profiling tests for advanced solid tumors and its Paletrra AI-powered spatial proteomics platform at the ASCO annual meeting. They also announced the commercial launch of c-MET CDx for NSCLC, their c-MET companion diagnostic IHC assay.
Helix has launched two new pharmacogenomic (PGx) tests: PGx Fluoropyrimidines DPYD assay, which identifies patients at risk of severe toxicity from certain cancer treatments due to DPYD gene variants. PGx APOE test, which evaluates a patient’s risk of serious side effects from Alzheimer’s drugs like Leqembi and Kisunla, particularly in those with two APOE ε4 alleles.
Bioneer has launched a 100 kb-scale DNA synthesis technology, the technology is capable of precisely synthesizing and assembling DNA sequences up to 100 kb in length from short oligonucleotides.
Nucleai has launched an expanded suite of software products for antibody-drug conjugate (ADC) clinical trials.
diagnostics.ai has launched a CE-IVDR-compliant machine learning platform for rtPCR diagnostics in Europe, offering transparent results, real-time monitoring, and clinician-ready explanations.
SAGA Diagnostics launched in the US its Pathlight tumor-informed multi-cancer residual disease test, starting with an indication for early-stage breast cancer.
Eurofins Viracor launched real-time PCR assays for dimorphic fungi, providing clinicians with diagnostic information for prompt and targeted treatment.
KROMATID® launched Kromasure PinPoint, a high-throughput solution for transgene genomic integration analysis.
Golden Helix, Inc. released VarSeq 3 and VSWarehouse 3 for enterprise-scale secondary and tertiary genomic analysis.
Biotium launched Cheetah Flex and Cheetah PEA-Plex HotStart Taq DNA polymerases for fast-cycling qPCR, proximity extension assays (PEA), and NGS-based PEA workflows.
Guardant Health launched Guardant Hereditary Cancer test, a blood-based germline test that identifies genetic variants associated with cancer risk. The team also launched Guardant360 Tissue, an updated version of its prior tissue genotyping assay that now incorporates multiomics analysis including DNA, RNA, AI-powered PD-L1 immunohistochemistry, and genome-wide methylation data.
Mirvie launched Encompass, which combines a blood test to predict preeclampsia risk with a preventive action plan and virtual assistant to offer pregnant women individualized support toward a healthy pregnancy.
BillionToOne launched an expanded version of its Unity Fetal Risk Screen that uses cell-free DNA and “Quantitative Counting Template” technology to assess fetal risk for up to 14 prevalent and clinically actionable recessive and X-linked conditions, without requiring a partner sample.
Alamar Biosciences, Inc. has expanded its NULISAseq CNS Disease Panel 120 to include the brain-derived phosphorylated tau (pTau) proteins pTau 217, pTau 181, pTau 231, and total tau.
Ribbon Bio has launched MiroSynth DNA molecules to support applications in biopharma, life sciences, and academic research.
Cellecta, Inc. launched the DriverMap EXP Human Genome-Wide 19K Dried Blood Microsample Profiling Kit.
Metabolon, Inc. launched a microbiome research solution that integrates metagenomics sequencing and bioinformatics tools with a new microbiome metabolite panel.
Almac Group launched the PNPLA3 Genotyping Kit for liver disease research. The qPCR kit can be used to genotype the PNPLA3 gene from blood or buccal swab specimens with a hands-on time of less than 30 minutes.
Karius launched Karius Focus BAL, a metagenomic sequencing-based microbial cell-free DNA test designed to help physicians identify the pathogens causing pneumonia and other lung infections.
Predicta Biosciences launched its first laboratory developed test, GenoPredicta for bone marrow or blood.
Seqera announced the launch of Seqera Containers, a no-cost, streamlined bioinformatics container solution.
CytoTronics launched their novel Cardiac application, the next key offering in its Pixel application portfolio.
Oligo Factory launches low-scale oligo synthesis capability to broaden support for therapeutic and diagnostic researchers and developers
Accreditations & Regulatory Updates
Nabsys announced its achievement of ISO 9001:2015 certification.
genedrive has received CE marking under the EU’s IVDR for its point-of-care CYP2C19 ID Kit genotyping platform, which is used to guide therapy selection in stroke patients.
Illumina has received regulatory approval for its TruSight Oncology (TSO) Comprehensive cancer genomic profiling assay in Japan.
Teal Health announced that its self-collection device for human papillomavirus testing has obtained US FDA approval.
Promega Corporation said that its ProDx MSI Detection Kit has received an innovative medical device registration certificate from China’s National Medical Products Administration (NMPA).
Tribun Health announced that its flagship web-based image management system, CaloPix®, has received FDA 510(k) clearance for use with two whole slide imaging scanners: the Hamamatsu NanoZoomer S360 and the Leica Aperio GT450.
Roche receives FDA approval for the VENTANA MET (SP44) RxDx Assay as the first companion diagnostic to identify non-squamous non-small cell lung cancer patients eligible for treatment with Emrelis.
Funding updates
VUGENE, a Lithuanian multiomics data analysis firm, raised €1 million ($1.1 million) in a private financing round.
SampleFacts, a pioneering sample collection company, announced the successful closure of a $1.8 million funding round.
AMPLY Discovery, a AI drug discovery startup, closed a $1.75M seed funding.
CryoCloud has secured a €2M Seed funding round to expand its cryo-electron microscopy SaaS platform, which aims to streamline drug development.
MantaBio raised $2.5 million in seed funding to help develop its qPCR-based microbial contamination testing platform for biopharma applications.
QUIDDITAS , a Belgium-based startup offering a new genome editing technology, has raised €2.6 million ($2.9 million) in financing.
Pluto Bio raised $3.6 million in seed funding, which it will use to expand the use of its computational biology platform among pharmaceutical companies.
Pictor has secured $5 million in seed funding to support the launch of its San Diego-headquartered US operations.
QCDx raised $7 million in new financing, including $5.3 million from a credit facility and the conversion of $1.7 million in existing convertible notes into equity.
Intrepid Labs, a biotechnology company improving drug formulation development through the use of AI and robotics, raised $7M USD in Seed funding.
Alphabiome.ai, the first company to unlock the microbiome’s genetic code with advanced AI, announces $8M seed funding.
ProteinQure raises $11 million Series A financing to advance first AI-Designed peptide therapeutic into clinical trials.
Biostate AI, an innovator in AI and RNA sequencing, has raised $12 million in a Series A financing round.
CND Life Sciencesannounced that it has raised $13.5 million in its Series A equity financing round, with $8.6 million in its most recent Series A3 offering.
Oslo University Hospital has received a €13.6 million ($15.3 million) European Union grant to develop liquid biopsy cancer tests for people with the hereditary disorder Lynch syndrome.
Hedera Dx closed a €15 million ($17.1 million) Series A financing round, which will support ongoing commercial expansion and development of the firm’s data infrastructure.
Maryland Stem Cell Research Fund (MSCRF) awards over $18 Million to drive breakthroughs in regenerative medicine.
Catena Labs secures $18M seed investment led by a16z crypto, to build the first AI-native financial institution.
SeqOne, a pioneer in AI-driven genomic analysis for personalized medicine, announced a €20 million oversubscribed growth funding round.
Seqera, a leading software provider for complex data analysis in the life sciences space, has raised $26 million in Series B funding.
PHASE Scientific International Limited raised $34 million in a Series A financing round, which will support the development and commercialization of the their urine-based liquid biopsy diagnostic testing technology.
Pillar Biosciences Incorporated has raised $34.5 million, including a strategic investment from Illumina.
Vivodyne, a company developing drug testing on lab-grown 3D human tissues, raised $40M in Series A funding.
Somite AI, a TechBio company leveraging foundation models and proprietary AI to accelerate human cell therapy development, closed its Series A funding round, raising more than $47 million.
PhaseV, a leader in AI/ML-driven clinical development, lands $50M Series A to supercharge AI for clinical development.
Tobin Scientific closes $65M investment to accelerate growth across life sciences infrastructure.
Pathos closed a $365 million Series D financing round to support the expansion of its AI platform for oncology drug development.
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