Pharma

Genomics research supplier rounds up $21.3 million from China-focused investors

In a demonstration of the booming field of genomic research, investors have pumped $21.3 million […]

In a demonstration of the booming field of genomic research, investors have pumped $21.3 million into a company that makes and manufactures genome-wide research tools and services.

OriGene Technologies said its Series C was led by Chinese venture firm Qiming Venture Partners and Kleiner Perkins Caufield Byers China, with participation from previous investor IDG-Accel, a China-focused private equity firm.

OriGene has made several moves to gain foothold in the booming Chinese biotech industry, and apparently that’s working. Last year, OriGene acquired Zhongshan Golden Bridge Biotechnology, which makes testing products for the oncology market. In 2010, the company announced plans to build a production facility in Wuxi, China.

Among OriGene’s offerings is a searchable collection of full-length human cDNA clones and a line of ultra-specific monoclonal antibodies called UltraMAB used by pharmaceutical companies and scientists to study complete biological pathways.

The Rockville, Maryland, company was founded by Dr. Wei-Wu He, one of the first employees of Human Genome Sciences and co-founder and general partner of the venture fund Emerging Technology Partners.

Sparked by continued adoption of next-generation sequencing, research firm DeciBio expects that the market for global genomics life science research tools expected will grow 6 percent annually during the next five years.

[Photo by ddpavumba]

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