NEW YORK – Complete Genomics Cofounder and CSO Rade Drmanac issued an open letter to genomics researchers this week, emphasizing the data safety and security of its sequencing platforms while denouncing the inclusion of Complete Genomics in the recently introduced Biosecure Act in Congress. The company is a subsidiary of MGI Tech of China, which went public on the Shanghai Stock Exchange in 2022. "Complete Genomics is not a sequencing service provider and does not have access to, collect, or maintain genetic data," Drmanac wrote. "Any information created or maintained using our sequencers is done by our customers who maintain sole control and responsibility for safeguarding the privacy of the data they generate."
Bio-Rad Laboratories has secured $200 million in an unsecured revolving credit facility with Wells Fargo. In an 8-K form filed with the US Securities and Exchange Commission on Feb. 14, the firm said it repaid in full all outstanding obligations under the previous revolving credit agreement. The previous agreement was dated April 15, 2019 and included JP Morgan Chase Bank as administrative agent, as well as Bank of America, HSBC Bank, National Association, and MUFG Bank as co-syndication agents.
A3P Biomedical said this week that its Stockholm3 prostate cancer test has been included in a regional screening program in Sweden. The test combines protein and genetic biomarkers with clinical data and uses an algorithm to predict the risk of aggressive prostate cancer. The so-called organized program for prostate cancer testing (OPT), initiated by the regions of Stockholm and Gotland, is inviting 27,000 men born in 1972 and 1974 to participate, who will be offered testing with Stockholm3 if their PSA levels are elevated. The goal is to detect aggressive prostate cancer at an early stage, reduce overdiagnosis, and improve the use of healthcare resources, according to the Stockholm-based company. An earlier OPT program, started in 2022 in the region of Värmland and including all men between 50 and 70 years of age, also uses the Stockholm3 test.
Chinese precision oncology testing company Genetron Health said this week that its shareholders have voted in favor of the previously announced proposal to merge parent company New Genetron Holding and its subsidiary Genetron New Co to create a new privately owned entity, Genetron Health. If and when completed, the company's American Depositary Shares (ADS), each representing 15 ordinary company shares, would no longer be listed on the Nasdaq Global Market, and the ADS program would be terminated. In addition, Genetron's ordinary shares would cease to be registered under Section 12 of the Securities Exchange Act of 1934. Genetron specializes in cancer molecular profiling for disease management, screening, diagnosis, and treatment recommendations and offers biopharma development services.
Bruker said last week that its board of directors has approved a quarterly cash dividend of $.05 per share of common stock, payable on March 15 to stockholders of record as of March 1.
Lifebit has opened new regional operations in Singapore to facilitate its relationship with Synapxe, Singapore's national health technology agency, and to advance its precision medicine initiatives in the Asia-Pacific and Japan (APJ) regions, the company said this week. Lifebit offers a federated technology platform for genomics and biomedical data that it is currently implementing into Trust, a national analytics platform in Singapore that enables the secure assimilation and use of anonymized health-related research and real-world data. The platform will enable precision medicine research in Singapore and the wider APJ region, Lifebit said.
MilliporeSigma said this week that it will open a new manufacturing suite for current good manufacturing practices (cGMP)-quality oligonucleotides at its life science hub in St. Louis. The 4,200-square-foot facility will enable a 7.5X-capacity increase for the firm's cGMP oligo business when it is fully operational later this year, according to a spokesperson, enabling MilliporeSigma to expand its offerings to diagnostic and clinical markets.
Thermo Fisher Scientific said this week that its board of directors authorized a quarterly cash dividend of $.39 per common share, payable on April 15 to shareholders of record as of March 15. This reflects an 11 percent increase over the previous dividend payment of $.35.
Danaher this week announced that its board of directors has approved a regular quarterly cash dividend of $.27 per share of its common stock, payable on April 26 to shareholders of record as of March 28.
Agilent Technologies' board of directors this week declared a quarterly dividend of $.24 per common share payable April 24 to all shareholders of record as of the close of the market on April 2.
In Brief This Week is a selection of news items that may be of interest to our readers but had not previously appeared on GenomeWeb.