Biomatters sells futuristic genome analysis package
Today – Biomatters announced the sale of its sophisticated package for helping scientists analyse differences in human
genomes which CEO Daniel Batten says could ultimately pave the way for a new generation of drugs which are tailored to a
person’s DNA.
The deal is worth around $250,000 over three years to Biomatters, and allows the Auckland University worldwide premiere
access to its software. Says Batten “The University is more than a customer, they are a development partner. The plus
for us is that we have been able to gain a customer before we take the tool to market internationally – while for the
University – they get considerable input into the design of the software and, we hope, the ability to make meaningful
research findings before anyone else in the world gains access to the software.
The working title for this product is “iSeek”. Chief Bioinformatician Alexei Drummond says “iSeek is more than a product
– it is a framework which integrates 3 key areas that have been holding back genomic science. All bioinformatics
complexity is kept under the hood of a front-end that is usable and invaluable to any molecular biology.”
Biomatters, a resident of the Icehouse with its R team now co-located at Auckland University, has recently taken on five new developers-interns to increase its R effort.
In other recent news, Biomatters presented an abstract at the International Mouse Genome Conference in Seattle, and made
a poster-presentation at Ausbiotech in Brisbane Australia.
Last month Biomatters received an Enterprise Development Grant and an Enterprise Network grant to increase their
overseas presence and infrastructure. They were also named a “pathfinder” company by New Zealand Trade and Enterprise.
Pathfinders are a select group of companies the New Zealand Government have identified as being able to make a
difference to the New Zealand economy.
- Ends -
For more information visit www.biomatters.com