Affymetrix buys Eureka Genomics for $15 million

Affymetrix Inc. announced Friday that it has acquired all the assets of Hercules, a California-based Eureka Genomics Corp., for $15 million in cash.

Eureka develops cost-effective, low to mid-plex, high-throughput genotyping assays that use common next-generation sequencing (NGS) platforms for signal readout. These assays can detect hundreds to thousands of genetic markers that are increasingly in demand for routine crop and animal agrigenomics testing.

Affymetrix will immediately launch Eureka’s technologies as Eureka Genotyping Solution and Services for use in a wide range of routine animal and plant testing applications through an early access program.

Affymetrix President and CEO Frank Witney said that the company’s Axiom genotyping platform has been a great commercial success in the agrigenomics markets.

“An emerging segment of our customers has been asking for a cost-effective solution with focused genetic variant panels for very high-volume routine testing in animal and plant applications such as parentage, traceability or trait management," Witney said. "This acquisition will extend the continuum of our product offerings, enabling us to support more applications for our current customers and to serve new customers."

Concurrent with the acquisition, Affymetrix entered into a new multi-year partnership agreement to provide the Eureka technologies to the animal genetics business of Zoetis Inc. Zoetis will have certain preferred rights to incorporate the Eureka technologies into its cattle and sheep genomic products.