Genia

[BBoy]

http://www.genomeweb.com/sequencing/...-platform-diff

There are not very many details on Genia's website, but what little is there reads like a carbon copy of Oxford's stuff.

So how does this not infringe on everything Oxford is doing?

[jcosta]

Don´t know the answer. Only that Life technologies has put alot of money on it!
It is under my radar!

[TonyBrooks]

I smell a patent war!

[GW_OK]

Interesting interview with their CEO here.

Sounds very, very, very much like ONT. Beta's out at the end of the year, commerical in 2013.
Now, one of the most interesting things is that he's quoting price ranges. Sub-$100 disposable chips and sub-$1k chip readers (about 9:30 in the vid and again at 14:30).

[ETHANol]

He seems to think a lipid bilayer is a cell wall.

[scbaker]

I can't comment on the IP issues (there seems to be so much nanopore IP out there, I don't know how they all keep it straight), but what Genia claims to have over other nanopore companies is their expertise in using analog-to-digital sensors directly on integrated circuits. They say it gives them control over the creation of lipid bilayers, the addition of the protein nanopore, and precise control over the movement of the DNA molecules (back and forth through the pore for multiple reads). They also claim to be able to ramp up to 1M sensors (each with an individual pore) on a 1cm X 1cm chip.

I love what ONT is demonstrating with how their instruments can operate in tandem, but it isn't clear how many independent sensors/pores they'll have per well. Does anyone know?

I've placed what I know about Genia and ONT on BlueSEQ's knowledgebank (along with a dozen other emerging NGS technologies): http://blueseq.com/knowledgebank/emerging-technologies/

[Elcannibal]

I'm still waiting for Starlight...

[scbaker]

Originally Posted by Elcannibal

I'm still waiting for Starlight...

Yeah, I don't think I'd hold my breath on that one...

[BBoy]

Originally Posted by scbaker

I love what ONT is demonstrating with how their instruments can operate in tandem, but it isn't clear how many independent sensors/pores they'll have per well. Does anyone know?

They are presenting tomorrow/today I think, we shall see. My prediction is "not very many". Hope I am wrong.

[Biotech Rockstar]

Originally Posted by scbaker

I can't comment on the IP issues (there seems to be so much nanopore IP out there, I don't know how they all keep it straight), but what Genia claims to have over other nanopore companies is their expertise in using analog-to-digital sensors directly on integrated circuits. They say it gives them control over the creation of lipid bilayers, the addition of the protein nanopore, and precise control over the movement of the DNA molecules (back and forth through the pore for multiple reads). They also claim to be able to ramp up to 1M sensors (each with an individual pore) on a 1cm X 1cm chip.

I love what ONT is demonstrating with how their instruments can operate in tandem, but it isn't clear how many independent sensors/pores they'll have per well. Does anyone know?

I've placed what I know about Genia and ONT on BlueSEQ's knowledgebank (along with a dozen other emerging NGS technologies): http://blueseq.com/knowledgebank/emerging-technologies/

No QuantuMDx in your BlueSEQ's knowledgebank?

[scbaker]

Originally Posted by Biotech Rockstar

No QuantuMDx in your BlueSEQ's knowledgebank?

Not yet, but they should be. I would love to hear more details about how the Q-SEQ device will work. Feel free to contact me directly.

[MrGuy]

Originally Posted by scbaker

Yeah, I don't think I'd hold my breath on that one...

Some little bird told me starlight is alive.

[krobison]

Originally Posted by scbaker

Yeah, I don't think I'd hold my breath on that one...

A group at the Salk presented data at AGBT13 using modified Starlight (no quantum dots).

[scbaker]

Originally Posted by krobison

A group at the Salk presented data at AGBT13 using modified Starlight (no quantum dots).

Very interesting. Do you know if they've purchased the IP from $LIFE or if they have any commercialization plans?

[AllSeq]

Originally Posted by BBoy

http://www.genomeweb.com/sequencing/...-platform-diff

There are not very many details on Genia's website, but what little is there reads like a carbon copy of Oxford's stuff.

So how does this not infringe on everything Oxford is doing?

After effectively exiting the NGS market in 2013, Roche is making moves to get back into it with their acquisition of Genia for up to $350M ($125 up front and $225 in potential future payments). Read more on our blog.

[BBoy]

Originally Posted by AllSeq

After effectively exiting the NGS market in 2013, Roche is making moves to get back into it with their acquisition of Genia for up to $350M ($125 up front and $225 in potential future payments). Read more on our blog.

Brilliant move or sign of desperation on the part of Roche? After sending $60M+ down the drain with IBM they are now back to the big dance, now with (apparently) murky IP situation. ONT has licensed so much IP on the biochemistry side that it is not clear (to me) how Genia works around that. Judging from the patents that are now published, the sensors themselves are interesting but not terribly unique. The guys know their analog design (duh), but without biochemistry they will go nowhere. Maybe this is what Roche is banking on - take the platform and add their own biochemistry.

[AllSeq]

Originally Posted by BBoy

The guys know their analog design (duh), but without biochemistry they will go nowhere. Maybe this is what Roche is banking on - take the platform and add their own biochemistry.

Genia seems to be claiming two advantages:
1) Precise control over the nanopore assembly process, allowing for 'better than Poisson' distribution

2) NanoTag biochemistry (being co-developed with Columbia and Harvard)

Do you not think this biochemistry confers an advantage (or are you saying they don't really 'own' it due to the murky nanopore IP situation)?

[BBoy]

Originally Posted by AllSeq

Do you not think this biochemistry confers an advantage (or are you saying they don't really 'own' it due to the murky nanopore IP situation)?

Their hardware, as much as can be judged from their patents and public presentations is elegant. Murky biochem IP is indeed the right way to characterize things. There are multiple startups, universities, and established companies working in this area, some with overlapping IP claims. It will be interesting to sit back and watch the lawyers get paid large amounts of money to argue about trivialities.

[snetmcom]

Originally Posted by scbaker

Very interesting. Do you know if they've purchased the IP from $LIFE or if they have any commercialization plans?

I'm curious about this part as well. I wonder if Thermo Fisher dumped any ties with Genia after the Life acquisition?

[AllSeq]

Originally Posted by snetmcom

I'm curious about this part as well. I wonder if Thermo Fisher dumped any ties with Genia after the Life acquisition?

Still haven't heard anything else about the group working on Starlight.

As for Thermo, my assumption is they still own a portion Genia and will make a bit of money on their investment once the acquisition closes.