Ocimum Bio launches genomic services on Affymetrix platform in Europe

Ocimum Biosolutions BV has launched its genomic services on the Affymetrix platform in Europe from its facility in IJsselstein, The Netherlands.

Ocimum will perform Gene Expression studies on the Affymetrix platform initially. But Ocimum is planning to offer its entire portfolio of services within a couple of months.

The move into the European market is part of Ocimum’s strategy to have a network of service centers in close proximity to leading genomics researchers.

“With the introduction of Affymetrix based genomics services in Europe, we are now available at the doorsteps of leading lifescience companies and research centers in Europe,” stated Anu Acharya, CEO of Ocimum and Gene Logic, in a press statement.

Ocimum’s European center would also now generate and analyze genomic and gene expression data with the same quality and attention to detail as it replicated the same protocols which are used in its GLP compliant Gaithersburg facility. This will make

Ocimum the partner of choice for two-thirds of the top 25 pharmaceutical/biotech companies and research centers, Anu Acharya added.

Gene Logic has been an Authorized Service Provider for Affymetrix for more than a decade, providing genomic services on the Affymetrix platform from its Gaithersburg lab, which is one of the largest commercial microarray facilities in the world, according to Kevin King, president and CEO of Affymetrix.

In January, Ocimum Biosolutions unveiled its Biotracker R&D Life Science LIMS technology. In the Biotracker 4.1 release, all the LIMS methods can be accessible through advanced Web Services based API, as well as a Java based API.

Based on the Bioframe multi-tier platform, Biotracker executes across an independent database layer, a business layer handling business logic rules and validation requirements, and a full featured presentation layer.

Ocimum Biosolutions is an integrated genomics company providing comprehensive genomic reference databases, life science lab information management solutions, GLP-compliant microarray services and essential research consumables. Over 2/3rd of the top 25 pharma companies, leading research institutes and emerging biotech companies worldwide have chosen Ocimum as their preferred outsourcing partner and utilize our expertise for understanding underlying mechanisms of diseases, discovery and prioritization of gene targets and biomarkers.

Ocimum has created gene expression databases – BioExpress and ToxExpress for the genomic services industry. Ocimum provides multiple GLP-compliant platforms for gene expression and SNP genotyping data generation. Ocimum also provides full biorepository and genomic services support for the Genetic Alliance.

Affymetrix GeneChip microarray technology is the industry-standard tool for analyzing complex genetic information. Affymetrix technology is used by the world’s top pharmaceutical, diagnostic and biotechnology companies, as well as leading academic, government and not-for-profit research institutes. More than 1,800 systems have been shipped around the world and more than 16,000 peer-reviewed papers have been published using the technology.

Affymetrix is headquartered in Santa Clara, Calif., and has manufacturing facilities in Cleveland, Ohio, and Singapore.