Applied Biosystems and Geospiza Announce Collaboration to Build, Distribute, and Deploy Life Science Laboratory Management Solutions
Applied Biosystems, an Applera Corporation business, and Geospiza, a leading developer of software for managing the production, analysis, and distribution of DNA sequencing information, today announced a joint collaboration agreement to develop and market a joint informatics platform that is expected to dramatically improve productivity and enable greater connectivity between multiple instruments and data sources within life science laboratories.
The two businesses have begun work on creating a unique and flexible platform that integrates Applied Biosystems’ LS*LIMS™ Software with Geospiza’s Finch Suite. Geospiza Finch Suite software system increases productivity and efficiency of sequencing labs by integrating and automating sequencing workflows. The integrated platform is expected to give research laboratories the ability to create streamlined solutions for the increasingly complex challenges associated with producing, storing, and analyzing large volumes of DNA sequence data. As part of the collaboration, Applied Biosystems will also become a worldwide reseller of Geospiza’s Finch System software to help bring increased productivity to Applied Biosystems’ customers worldwide.
“Central to our integrated science philosophy is delivering innovative solutions that create better linkages between biological data and laboratory research,” said Michael Schneider, Division President, Service and System Solutions Division for Applied Biosystems. “Geospiza’s proven expertise in sequencing data management and analysis automation provides an ideal complement to Applied Biosystems’ industry-leading instruments, reagents, and software. We believe that this collaboration will benefit the scientific community by streamlining lab productivity and increasing the ability to consistently and cost-effectively produce, analyze, and deliver meaningful scientific results.”
Early access customers, such as SeqWright, a DNA technologies services lab, have already implemented the integrated platform from Applied Biosystems and Geospiza.
“SeqWright is excited to be among the first companies to take advantage of this impressive LIMS architecture which promises to enhance our operational excellence and build value for our customers,” said Kenneth Paynter, Operations Manager at SeqWright. “Working with Applied Biosystems and Geospiza to create more efficient and integrated research and development capabilities gives us a decided advantage that allows us to better serve our worldwide network of client researchers and organizations.”
Applied Biosystems’ instruments, including the 3130 Series Genetic Analyzers and 3730 Series DNA Analyzers, are currently compatible with both the enterprise and laboratory versions of Geospiza Finch Suite software. Many of Geospiza’s more than 10,000 customers worldwide are already using Applied Biosystems instruments in their labs. With customers ranging from academic laboratories to Fortune 50 pharmaceutical companies, Applied Biosystems’ Services and System Solutions Division supports more than 1,000 laboratories worldwide with project management, workflow definition, application configuration, third-party product integration, and custom software development.
“Our collaboration with Applied Biosystems should bring significant productivity gains to sequencing and genomic labs for both research and pre-clinical applications,” noted Todd Smith, Ph.D., chairman and CEO at Geospiza. “By deepening the integration between the Geospiza Finch Suite platform and a wide array of Applied Biosystems’ technologies both small labs and large enterprise-size core facilities can, for perhaps the first time, invest in a cohesive, data generation, analysis, and management system that can grow with them as their needs grow.”
About Applera Corporation and Applied Biosystems
Applied Biosystems is part of Applera Corporation, which consists of two operating groups. The Applied Biosystems Group serves the life science industry and research community by developing and marketing instrument-based systems, consumables, software, and services. Customers use these tools to analyze nucleic acids (DNA and RNA), small molecules, and proteins to make scientific discoveries, develop new pharmaceuticals, and conduct standardized testing. Applied Biosystems is headquartered in Foster City, CA, and reported sales of $1.7 billion during fiscal 2004. The Celera Genomics Group is engaged principally in the discovery and development of targeted therapeutics for cancer, autoimmune and inflammatory diseases. Celera Genomics is leveraging its proteomic, bioinformatic, and genomic capabilities to identify and validate drug targets, and to discover and develop small molecule therapeutics. It is also seeking to advance therapeutic antibody and selected small molecule drug programs in collaboration with global technology and market leaders. Celera Diagnostics, a 50/50 joint venture between Applied Biosystems and Celera Genomics, is focused on discovery, development, and commercialization of diagnostic products. Information about Applera Corporation, including reports and other information filed by the company with the Securities and Exchange Commission, is available at http://www.applera.com , or by telephoning 800.762.6923. Information about Applied Biosystems is available at http://www.appliedbiosystems.com/ .
About Geospiza
Founded in 1997, Geospiza combines deep IT and life science expertise to deliver scientifically-sound systems for managing the production, analysis and distribution of DNA sequencing data. The company’s primary customers are core facilities and research laboratories in commercial, education, government and non-profit settings. The Finch Suite platform provides these customers with increased productivity, greater efficiency and more cost-effective delivery of the data used by their customers for genomics, DNA sequencing, genotyping, EST analysis, expression analysis and proteomics projects. More information is available at www.geospiza.com .
Applied Biosystems and Celera are registered trademark and LS*LIMS, Applera, Celera Diagnostics are trademarks of Applera Corporation or its subsidiaries in the U.S. and/or certain other countries. All other trademarks are the sole property of their respective owners.
