Acquisition Aligns Data Automation Capability with Future Needs
Scientifi c informatics software and services company Dotmatics has announced the acquisition of Boston, US-based BioBright LLC, a leader in automating the fl ow of data from laboratory instruments to a secure cloud. The combined portfolio of lab data capture, data processing, electronic lab notebook (ELN) and data analytics capability from a single source will enable customers to automate their research data workfl ows without needing to manage multiple vendor relationships.
Stephen Gallagher Charles Fracchia
Dr Stephen Gallagher, Co-Founder and Chief Executive Offi cer of Bishops Stortford, UK company Dotmatics, said: “This is an exciting milestone in the history of Dotmatics and also hugely signifi cant for our customers and the wider industry. For the fi rst time world- leading informatics and lab data automation platforms are being brought together under a single vendor. Through complementary technologies, shared scientifi c expertise and industry insight, we will dramatically accelerate Dotmatics’ ability to innovate and drive lab data automation. We are delighted to welcome our new
BioBright colleagues to Dotmatics and look forward to working together to create a game-changing solution for our customers’ journey towards the Lab of the Future.”
Charles Fracchia, Co-Founder and Chief Executive Offi cer BioBright, added: “Scientifi c research has moved from being process-driven to data-centric. Scientists are inferring the results of experiments by analysing more data than ever and real-time data processing of terabytes of data is enabling analyses which were simply not possible in the manual era. Companies that own the cleanest, best-annotated data will be the most successful in making ground-breaking discoveries within this new paradigm. We are excited to combine BioBright with Dotmatics to build out a unique end-to-end offering that will allow our customers to achieve their data-driven future.”
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Agreement will Enhance Discovery Services
Axxam SpA, a discovery biology business, has been granted access to ERS Genomics’ co-owned foundational CRISP-Cas9 patent portfolio, to support the Milan-based company’s development of highly-customised cell-based assays for relevant target classes and molecular pathways. The genome editing technology will be used to activate or inactivate genes of interest, to insert tags to measure protein degradation or translocation, and to insert genetically encoded sensors in specifi ed genomic locations. The platform will applied across Axxam’s integrated discovery services, in fi elds such as pharmaceuticals, crop protection, animal health, and food and beverages.
“We are proud to add Axxam to our growing list of partners applying CRISPR-Cas9 technology to their service offerings,“ said Eric Rhodes, CEO of ERS Genomics. “Axxam’s discovery services cover a wide array of fi elds and we look forward to seeing how its use of CRISPR-Cas9 impacts these areas.”
“Innovation is our key driver and guides us in the constant aim to signifi cantly improve the discovery efforts of our clients and partners,” said Stefan Lohmer, CEO of Axxam. “Having access to one of the most important breakthrough gene editing technologies developed in recent years is a precious resource that will allow us, even more than before, to provide high-quality discovery services to the life science industries.”
Financial details of the agreement were not disclosed.
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Left to right: Dr Jürgen Pankratz, CEO of the Verder Scientifi c Division and Microtrac MRB, Carsten Minkley and Dr Jürgen Adolphs, Managing Directors.
The Verder Group has acquired the German company Porotec GmbH, thus further expanding its particle characterisation business.
Verder Scientific Acquires Porotec GmbH
Porotec develops and sells particle and porosity measurement instruments and is located near Frankfurt am Main, Germany. Porotec operates successfully as a dealer for Microtrac MRB, a company under the roof of the Verder Scientific Division also specialised in particle characterisation.
With the acquisition of Porotec, Microtrac MRB enhances its expertise and market position in gas adsorption, porosimetry and density measurement, and strengthens its German team in the areas application, sales and service. Porotec contributes relevant technical know-how and in-depth knowledge of the market.
Microtrac MRB was established in 2020 by uniting the companies Microtrac Inc, MicrotracBEL Corp and Retsch Technology GmbH and provides the world’s widest product offering for particle characterisation. Microtrac MRB currently prepares the market launch of the BELPORE mercury porosimeter, a niche technology in which Porotec is also very experienced and has a large installed base.
More information online:
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New Manager to Drive Presence in North America
Process optimisation laboratory tools developer HEL Group has appointed Mert Sahin PhD as General Manager and Senior Vice President of HEL Inc, the Company’s North American subsidiary.
With a background in commercial leadership across the Life Sciences industry, Mertt joins from GE Healthcare where he held senior executive roles, most recently as Chief Marketing Offi cer for GE’s Medical Imaging business and has also held proles for the company across EMEA & North America within Healthcare, in particular Pharmaceuticals, Bioprocess and Medical Devices. He has also worked for companies in the Life Sciences and Diagnostics industries. Originally from Turkey, Mert completed his PhD at the University of Hamburg, Germany and lived in multiple countries before relocating to Boston, MA in 2016.
Louise Madden, CEO of HEL Group commented: “Despite these uncertain times, HEL recognises the underlying strength of the North American market and the potential for signifi cant growth. Mert will help us to build and deploy a stronger team across North America, to take advantage of this growth potential. Mert is a decisive, highly action-oriented commercial leader, with a strong background in instrument sales and marketing. As such, he will deliver results by focusing on the needs of our North American market and customers - helping them to unleash their full potential.”
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Funding to bring DM1 Candidate to Clinical Trials
Preclinical stage life sciences company Arthex Biotech, focused on developing next generation antisense RNA therapies for the treatment of Myotonic Dystrophy Type 1 (DM1), has closed a funding round of €4.25 million ($4.9 million). This completes an initial seed round of €2.7 million ($3.1 million) brought by Invivo and CDTI-Innvierte in December 2019 and in June 2020 respectively. The total funds raised by Arthex since inception are now €6.95 million ($8 million).
The new funding, provided by Advent France Biotechnology (AFB) and Invivo Ventures, will bring Arthex’s therapy to fi rst-in-human trial readiness by 2022; on completion of the ongoing optimisation of the drug candidate and subsequent preclinical regulatory studies.
DM1 is a neuromuscular disease with genetic origin and is considered an orphan disease. So far, no suitable treatment has been developed.
Valencia-based Arthex was co-founded by Dr Rubén Artero and Dr Beatriz Llamusí in September 2019, with the support of seed funding from Invivo Ventures, to translate to the bedside a promising RNA therapy invented by the Translational Genomics research group at the University of Valencia. Proof of concept in an animal model of the disease has been published [1] and the therapy was patented and licensed to Arthex by the University of Valencia.
In conjunction with the fi nancing, Alain Huriez, Chairman and Managing Partner at AFB, will join Arthex’s board of directors, alongside the managing
partners of Invivo Ventures, Luis Pareras and Albert Ferrer.
“Welcoming Dr Huriez from AFB is an outstanding oppo- rtunity for us. The company is highly specialised in drug
Alain Huriez
development with biotechnology start-ups,” said Dr Beatriz Llamusi, co-founder and CEO of Arthex. “What I value most is the broad experience and expertise that Dr Huriez and his team bring with them.”
“Arthex Biotech represents a unique combination of world-class science and entrepreneurial skills, translating great discoveries into potential breakthrough therapeutic outcomes for DM1 patients,” said Alain Huriez, MD, PhD, chairman at AFB. “We are proud and honoured to join Invivo Ventures in this venture.”
“With more than a dozen RNA therapies being tested in clinical trials, the fi eld is gaining momentum and many patients with previously untreatable conditions have cause for optimism. We are very proud to join forces with Advent France Biotechnology to bring Arthex’s RNA therapy to fi rst-in-human trials,” said Luis Pareras, MD, PhD, and Albert Ferrer, founding partners at Invivo Ventures. “We look forward to partnering with them and making the company a success story for DM1 patients.”
1. Published in Nature Communications
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