Roche's 454 Life Sciences has struck a partnership with SoftGenetics, a provider of next-generation sequencing (NGS) analytics. The co-op calls for Roche/454 and SoftGenetics to join forces in production promotions, the software company says.
With biologists struggling to make use of a rising tide of NGS data, SoftGenetics provides analysis software in tune with 454 sequencing data, according to the company. SoftGenetics' technology applies to multiple types of sequencing jobs, including amplicon resequencing, exome sequencing and forensic profiling.
The deal follows a string of tie-ups between providers of sequencing machines and software vendors. And Roche ($RHHBY), which acquired Branford, CT-based 454 in 2007, recently scratched efforts to buy Illumina, the top provider of DNA sequencing systems. Illumina ($ILMN) recently revealed plans to create an ecosystem for genomics software providers to offer apps that can work seamlessly with Illumina sequencing data, seeing an opportunity to capitalize on the growing market for bioinformatics.
State College, PA-based SoftGenetics, clearly, aims to expand its business with 454 customers.
"This agreement permits both 454 and SoftGenetics the opportunity to more fully understand and address the rapidly changing needs of the NGS marketplace," John Fosnacht, a SoftGenetics founder, stated. "SoftGenetics welcomes the opportunity to work closely with our colleagues at 454 Life Sciences to provide our mutual customers with integrated sequencing and analysis systems that not only delivers the required quality and sensitivity, but also the efficiency needed in today's scientific and economic environments."
- here's the release