Biomatrica Secures Strategic Investment from IQT

SAN DIEGO, Feb. 23, 2011 /PRNewswire/ -- Biomatrica, Inc., a leader in room temperature biostability technology, today announced a strategic partnership agreement with In-Q-Tel (IQT). IQT is the independent, strategic investment firm that identifies innovative technology solutions to support the mission of the U.S. Intelligence Community.

Biomatrica has developed SampleMatrix® technology which has pioneered recent innovations in ambient storage of biological samples from purified DNA, RNA, and proteins as well as in complex systems such as tissue, cell lines, biopsies and whole blood. The company's products serve a wide range of customers such as those in the forensics, biomedical research (academic, government and industry), molecular diagnostics and biobanking. Biomatrica was recently recognized as a Finalist for the Most Innovative New Product Award (MIP) in the Life Science and Diagnostics category as conducted by San Diego's CONNECT.

"Biomatrica's technology capability is an important addition to our strategic investment portfolio," said Syd Ulvick, Vice President, Physical and Biological Technologies Practice at IQT. "The company's technology advances offer great promise for applications in both the government and commercial sector."

"As the needs of research and medicine to manage biological samples grow, increasing energy and environmental cost associated with cold storage of biological samples, it is critical for biobanks, research institutions and biotechnology companies to identify alternative storage solutions," said Judy Muller-Cohn, Ph.D., CEO and co-founder of Biomatrica. "The SampleMatrix technology allows for safe, long term preservation of biological samples at room temperature. Sample recovery is simple and sample integrity is assured."

SampleMatrix® is based on extremophile biology in which organisms are able to survive long-term in a state of anhydrobiosis (life without water) and later be revived by rehydration. Extremophiles such as tardigrades, also known as water bears, and brine shrimp are able protect their DNA, RNA, proteins, membranes and cellular systems in a dried state for extended periods of time. Biomatrica's technology mimics the natural molecular mechanisms used by these organisms. The technology works by forming a thermo-stable barrier during the drying process to protect samples from degradation during storage at room temperature.

About Biomatrica®, Inc.

Biomatrica (www.biomatrica.com) is a San Diego-based biostability company that provides innovative technologies for stabilizing, processing, storing and shipping biological samples at room temperature. The core technology is designed for use in preserving complex biological samples and assays and is based on the principles of anhydrobiosis ("life without water"), a natural mechanism that allows multicellular organisms to survive extreme environments. Biomatrica's current products stabilize DNA, RNA, proteins, cells and assays with no sample degradation, allowing scientists and clinicians to have pristine samples and reduce their reliance on freezers and drastically reduce shipping costs. Biomatrica products are used in laboratories performing life science research, from pharmaceutical and biotechnology companies to academic research and forensics laboratories. Custom services to stabilize additional sample types are also available. Biomatrica also offers SampleWare® software, an easy-to-use, customizable laboratory management database that provides scientists with the means to store and organize their sample data, and directly supports samples stabilized by Biomatrica technology. For more information about the SampleMatrix technology and the Biomatrica products utilizing this technology platform (DNAstable®, DNAstable Blood, DNAgard Tissue and DNAgard Blood for DNA, RNAstable® and RNAconcentrator for RNA, and CloneStable® for bacterial DNA), visit: www.biomatrica.com.

About IQT

In-Q-Tel is the strategic, not-for-profit investment firm that works to identify, adapt, and deliver innovative technology solutions to support the missions of the U.S. Intelligence Community. Launched in 1999 as a private, independent organization, IQT's mission is to identify and partner with companies developing cutting-edge technologies that serve the national security interests of the United States. Working from an evolving strategic blueprint defining the Intelligence Community's critical technology needs, IQT engages with entrepreneurs, growth companies, researchers, and investors to deliver technologies that provide superior capabilities for the CIA and the larger Intelligence Community. To learn more about IQT, visit www.iqt.org.

SOURCE Biomatrica, Inc.