Applied Biosystems invests in VisiGen, to collaborate on sequencing

New York, Oct. 26 - Applera Corp.'s Applied Biosystems Group said it has agreed to make an equity investment in VisiGen Biotechnologies, Inc. and to collaborate scientifically.

Closing is subject to conditions including an additional investment in VisiGen from existing shareholder SeqWright, Inc.

"Applied Biosystems continues to extensively evaluate potential next generation sequencing technologies. We believe that the quality of VisiGen's science and the progress towards the development of single-molecule sequencing technology is quite impressive," said Catherine M. Burzik, president of Applied Biosystems, in a news release.

"We are committed to maintaining our leadership position in DNA sequencing. Applied Biosystems plans to complement its internal investments in new and existing sequencing technologies with promising next generation approaches, such as VisiGen's."

"VisiGen's approach of monitoring massively parallel arrays of single molecules may enable much larger scale sequencing projects in the areas of cancer and other diseases. In the long run, it could also make sequencing-based targeted medicine a reality," added Susan H. Hardin, president and chief executive officer of VisiGen, in the release. "Applied Biosystems' expertise in DNA sequencing makes it an ideal partner for us as we work towards commercialization, and this investment will accelerate the development of our sequencing technology."

VisiGen received a "$1,000 genome" grant from the National Human Genome Research Institute, part of the National Institutes of Health, in August to advance the development of sequencing technologies intended to reduce the cost of DNA sequencing and expand the use of genomics in biomedical research and health care.

The ability to sequence an individual genome cost-effectively could enable health care professionals to tailor diagnosis, treatment and prevention to each person's unique genetic profile, the companies said in the news release.

Applied Biosystems is a Foster City, Calif., developer of instruments, consumables, software and services for industry and researchers in life sciences.

VisiGen is a Houston-based private company developing a new method of sequencing DNA, with the goal of sequencing a human genome in a day for $1,000.

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