NEW YORK (GenomeWeb News) — Eurofins-Medigenomix-MWG Biotech has acquired a 454 Life Sciences Genome Sequencer 20 instrument from Roche and expects to install it next week in Medigenomix’s German research facility, the companies said last week.
By combining the GS20 with the companies’ current sequencing platform, which is “mainly based” on the Sanger method, MWG and Medigenomix will be able to sequence and compare bacterial genomes in “a couple of days.”
MWG Biotech, based in Ebersberg, Germany, performs DNA sequencing services, and in August 2005 it joined forces with Eurofins Medigenomix, which performs DNA-analysis services for biopharma companies and academic institutions.
The deal makes Eurofins-Medigenomix-MWG Biotech the first sequencing provider in Germany using GS20 in-house. The placement comes a few weeks after another German company, Konstanz-based GATC Biotech, said it reached a licensing agreement to use the GS20 for sequencing and for mutation analysis. It was not immediately clear if GATC has placed a GS20 in-house.
Financial terms of the Eurofins-Medigenomix-MWG Biotech deal were not released.