DNA Electronics Ltd (DNAe), a developer of semiconductor solutions for real-time DNA and RNA detection, today announces that it had successfully secured the necessary funding for DNAe to develop the Genalysis® point-of-care genomic diagnostic product line. The majority of the funding had been provided by its principal shareholder, Edith Grove Limited (a wholly owned subsidiary of Genting Berhad), with the company’s founders also making further investment. DNAe will utilise the funding to transform the company from an R&D and licensing business to a full-fledged product company, offering point-of-care solutions for time-critical medical applications.
Combining the experience in next-generation sequencing gained from the company’s collaboration with Roche and its development of point-of-care genotyping solutions for personalised skincare analytics pioneer GENEU Limited, DNAe will develop a new product line of Genalysis® genomic diagnostic systems.
This further investment in DNAe forms part of a growing portfolio of cutting-edge healthcare companies funded by Genting Berhad. Tan Sri Lim Kok Thay, CEO and Chairman of Genting Berhad said: “We are excited about DNAe’s strategic growth plans and are delighted to provide our continued support to help the company achieve its clear market potential.”
Commenting on the further investment from Genting Berhad, CEO and Founder of DNAe Professor Chris Toumazou commented: “I would like to thank Genting Berhad for their continued strong support of DNAe, which reflects their confidence in our strategy and capability. Our label-free semiconductor sequencing technology is now proven across thousands of laboratories worldwide, through the company’s non-exclusive license to Ion Torrent, now part of Thermo Fisher Scientific. I am excited about embarking on this new chapter of growth and development of the company and making personalised genomic healthcare a tangible reality.”
About DNAe:
DNAe is a developer of semiconductor solutions for real-time nucleic acid detection which enables faster, simpler and more cost-effective DNA analysis platforms.
A spin-out of Imperial College London, DNAe was founded by Professor Toumazou following his invention of the company’s core technology that allows CMOS transistors to be switched on and off with DNA – the key invention enabling semiconductor-based sequencing. Professor Toumazou’s innovation has culminated in the world’s first DNA logic on standard CMOS technology.
The company’s IP portfolio includes techniques for monitoring nucleotide insertions using ion-sensitive transistors, enabling label-free electronic DNA sequencing and diagnostics platforms. DNAe has developed the ground-breaking Genalysis® platform of disposable silicon chip-based solutions for real-time nucleic acid sequence detection at the point of care, providing end users with technology as yet unavailable outside a laboratory.
DNAe has a non-exclusive, field-limited licensing agreement with Ion Torrent (now part of Thermo Fisher Scientific), whose next generation sequencing technology is based on DNAe’s semiconductor sequencing IP. DNAe has also licensed its Genalysis® technology platform to GENEU™, a company that is delivering on-the-spot genetic analytics services for cosmetics and skincare applications.
