NEW YORK, July 19 – Applied Biosystems and DeCode Genetics said Thursday they have signed a three-year collaboration designed to leverage both DeCode’s bioinformatics tools and Applied Biosystems’ instrumentation to “build powerful new capabilities for DNA research.”
The companies said in a statement that they would integrate DeCode’s genotyping software with Applied Biosystems laboratory management software. By doing so, the companies said they would be able to provide a range of solutions that could be customized to help researchers to generate, manage, and analyze genotyping data.
The companies will also develop new software, which could then be integrated into preexisting software tools.
Financial terms of the deal were not disclosed.
Applied Biosystems’ decision to work with DeCode represents a strong validation of the Icelandic company’s software. DeCode of Reykjavik previously said that it wanted to become a software provider.
"This alliance is a major step forward in our efforts to commercialize our bioinformatics resources, putting our software platform in the hands of virtually all the key players in the biotechnology and pharmaceutical industries,” said Kari Stefansson, CEO of DeCode.
Robert Jones, vice president of platform research and development at Applied Biosystems of Foster City, Calif., said the deal would help users of ABI’s technology to achieve better results.
"We want to provide the products and services that enable genomics laboratories to fully realize the capacity and value of our instrument systems,” Jones said. ”Researchers need laboratory management and automation systems integrated with their analytical tools if they are to operate on this scale. With this software, we believe our global professional services group will be able to deliver these solutions."
With 60 Applied Biosystems Prism 3700 DNA Analyzers, Decode has the largest installed based of such systems.