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Omicia Acquires Variant Analysis Software Firm Spiral Genetics

NEW YORK (GenomeWeb) – Clinical genomic analysis and reporting firm Omicia announced it has acquired variant detection software maker Spiral Genetics for an undisclosed amount.

Seattle-based Spiral Genetics offers a graph-based technology for structural variant detection, population-scale data mining, population-specific reference genomes, and lossless data compression technologies. Its existing customers include clinical labs, biotech firms, and government-led sequencing programs.

The firms had previously signed a deal to jointly offer a genomic analysis solution that covered everything from analyzing raw sequence to identifying clinically relevant genomic variants.

In a statement, Oakland, California-based Omicia said the newly acquired technologies will provide "new opportunities to develop novel diagnostics and efficiently manage long-term genomic data storage," for its customers. The firm counts Rady Children's Hospital, Genomics England, and Laboratory Corporation of America among its clients.

Moreover, Omicia CEO Matt Tindall said in a statement that the acquisition cements Omicia's position as a clinical next-generation sequencing analysis provider, offering a range of abilities on a single platform. "By removing the need to access multiple software platforms, we improve quality, accuracy, and turnaround time, removing major roadblocks to clinical adoption" of precision medicine, he said.

Last June, Omicia raised $23 million in Series B financing. 

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