Twist buys gene design software player to support e-commerce strategy

Synthetic DNA player Twist Bioscience has expanded its software capabilities through the acquisition of Israel’s Genome Compiler. The deal gives Twist access to software that supports the design of gene sequences, a resource it intends to leverage as it builds out an e-commerce platform over the coming months.

Genome Compiler, a Tel Aviv, Israel-based company, has built its business to date on software tools to help researchers assemble DNA sequences, simulate cloning experiments and carry out other tasks. In accepting a buyout bid of undisclosed size from Twist, Genome Compiler’s tools will be applied in new ways. Specifically, Twist, which has so far raised $143 million from investors including Illumina ($ILMN), wants to build the technology into an e-commerce platform it is setting up to support its commercial expansion.

“They are the leader in developing software that allows design of gene sequences for synthetic and molecular biology experiments,” Twist CEO Emily Leproust said in a statement. “We intend to build an elegant, intuitive eCommerce solution with a deep pipeline of digital products to follow that will enable our customers to reimagine their research by providing seamless integration of the design and build of their synthetic DNA.” Twist expects the e-commerce platform, which will feature gene design capabilities, to go live in the second half of 2016.

In setting up the platform, Twist will position itself to pick up ad-hoc business, while continuing to work to land major deals such as the 100 million base pair agreement it struck with Ginkgo Bioworks last year. Omri Amirav-Drory, founder and CEO of Genome Compiler, sees the platform helping out the scientists who make up his company's user base. “By combining our advanced software design capabilities with the technology leader in DNA synthesis, our customers will be able to streamline the design-build-test cycle,” Amirav-Drory said.

The Genome Compiler team are sticking around to help Twist manage this combination. Twist plans to retain Genome Compiler's R&D center in Tel Aviv, giving it access to the developers of the software and establishing its first overseas site in the process. The stated strategy is to expand the Tel Aviv site.

- read the statement