Eppendorf AG signs development agreement with BioDiscovery for worldwide distribution of microarray analysis software
April 17, 2003
BioDiscovery of Marina Del Rey, California, is a leading provider of software products for bioanalysis and in particular of products for quantification and statistical evaluation of results. Its software systems ImaGeneTM and GeneSightTM are used in hundreds of key laboratories worldwide.Eppendorf, a leading biotech supplier, will offer a new microarray system with utmost sensitivity and superior reproducibility consisting of instruments, software, consumables, and array kits based on patented and patent-pending technologies, and plans to launch its system in the next few months. As a result of this cooperation, BioDiscovery will modify its popular ImaGene software for image analysis of microarrays and integrate Eppendorf statistical tools and other proprietary developments that are important for proper analysis and geared to enhancing user convenience beyond currently available products into a new software package for Eppendorf microarray products.
DNA microarrays or biochips are slides onto which a large number of different DNA probes have been attached and fixed in a regular pattern. These arrays permit parallel detection of defined target sequences of DNA. The results are imaged and analyzed using special scanners. Target groups are customers in academic research as well as research facilities in biotechnology, the pharmaceutical industry and clinical diagnostics. The world market of microarrays for DNA applications is estimated today to reach approx. US$ 250 million and is forecast to grow to approx. one billion US$ by the year 2006. Klaus Fink, Chief Executive Office of the Eppendorf AG said, "By licensing the BioDiscovery software, Eppendorf has enhanced its portfolio with a pioneering technology for microarray users. Our philosophy of integrated systems is especially important for research in molecular biology. We are convinced that the Eppendorf microarray system incorporating the BioDiscovery software will make an important contribution in this field." Soheil Shams, Ph.D., President of BioDiscovery said, "Eppendorf and BioDiscovery both share a common vision of creating systems which easily and effectively harness the power of microarray technology to advance discovery. In addition, both companies believe in the importance of data quality and proper use of statistical analysis to reach meaningful experimental conclusions."
BioDiscovery was founded in 1997 in Los Angeles, California, and is a rapidly growing leader in the development of microarray bioinformatics software and services. BioDiscovery provides a full line of modular software packages spanning the entire microarray process, including clone tracking, image processing, data mining, statistical analysis, and data management. The company has strong core competence in computer vision, image processing, pattern recognition, and database systems. BioDiscovery has close ties with local university laboratories including the University of California, Los Angeles, and the University of Southern California, and with genomics research scientists in many organizations worldwide. Eppendorf AG is a leading supplier of systems and research tools for the biotechnology industry worldwide with more than 1,600 employees on four continents. In 2002, the company enjoyed sales of more than 297 million Euro with earnings before interest and tax (EBIT) of approx. 36 million Euro.
For more information contact:
BioDiscovery, Inc.
Greg Moore
Vice-President Business Development
Phone: (310) 306-9310 ext. 507
Fax: (310) 306-9109
E-mail: gmoore@biodiscovery.com