Transaction marks NextGen’s conversion to a biomarker service company.
NextGen Sciences divested its electrophoresis business to Sigma-Aldrich for an up-front fee and royalties for three years. This completes NextGen’s realignment to a biomarker services business.
Under the deal with Sigma-Aldrich, NextGen has sold its automated gel casting unit called a2DEoptimizer™ and the range of large format precast gels known as optigels™. Sigma-Aldrich will focus primarily on the supply of optigels, initially to the North American and European markets.
In December 2008, NextGen sold its gene-to-protein automation and software business to eXeTek, a spinout led by two former NextGen employees. NextGen also acquired a 24% stake in eXeTek at the time and will receive 5% royalties for three years.
Launched in November 2007, NextGen Sciences’ service portfolio called biomarkerexpress™ includes biomarker discovery, assay development, and testing.
