Avantra becomes Courtagen, except for biomarker biz

Woburn, MA-based Avantra Biosciences will hereby be known as Courtagen Life Sciences. However, those who follow biomarker news will not need to know the new name just yet. The company said it will keep using its original name for its proteomics business, which includes the Avantra biomarker system. The move helps researchers simultaneously analyze up to 20 protein biomarkers, according to Mass High Tech.

"The name change reflects the company's new strategic focus on developing advanced technologies in both genomic and proteomic areas and our commitment to bring additional needed technologies to the market," CEO Brian McKernan said in a release. The company's biomarker workstation features a microarray imaging platform for biomarker analysis.

The company raised $7 million in Series A cash in August 2010. It was formed from the assets of now inoperative Decision Biomarkers, according to Mass High Tech.

- read the release
- and the story in Mass High Tech