Officials at Affymetrix say the company acquired substantially all of the assets of Eureka Genomics for $15 million in cash. The Hercules, CA-based firm develops high-throughput genotyping assays that use common next-generation sequencing (NGS) platforms for signal readout. These assays enable the detection of hundreds to thousands of genetic markers that are increasingly in demand for routine crop and animal agrigenomics testing.
Affymetrix will immediately launch the Eureka Genomics’ technologies as Eureka Genotyping Solution and Services for use in a wide range of routine animal and plant testing applications through an early access program.
“Our array-based Axiom genotyping platform has achieved great commercial success in agrigenomics markets. An emerging segment of our customers have been asking for a cost-effective solution with focused genetic variant panels for very high volume routine testing in animal and plant applications such as parentage, traceability or trait management,” said Frank Witney, president and CEO of Affymetrix. “This acquisition will extend the continuum of our product offerings enabling us to support more applications for our current customers and to serve new customers.”
Eureka Genomics has been collaborating with and providing NGS, genomics, genotyping, and bioinformatics services to government agencies, universities, research centers, and agrigenomic companies since 2008.
Along with the acquisition, Affymetrix entered into a new multiyear partnership agreement to provide the Eureka Genomics technologies to the animal genetics business of Zoetis. Affymetrix will grant Zoetis certain preferred rights to incorporate the Eureka Genomics technologies in its cattle and sheep genomic products.
