EdgeBio Selects Caliper's Sample Preparation Suite for High Throughput and Benchtop Sequencing Workflows

HOPKINTON, Mass. and GAITHERSBURG, Md., June 27, 2011 /PRNewswire/ -- Caliper Life Sciences, Inc. (NASDAQ: CALP) today announced a collaboration with Edge BioSystems, Inc., an innovative sequencing service provider based in Gaithersburg, Md.  EdgeBio and Caliper will co-develop automated protocols for the 5500xl, SOLiD 4, and Ion Torrent Personal Genome Machine (PGM) systems on Caliper's Sciclone® NGS Workstation, and will initially focus on sample preparation for exome, whole genome, and RNA sequencing applications.

"We are excited to be working with Caliper," said Dean Gaalaas, CEO of EdgeBio.  "Caliper's approach to sequencing sample preparation is robust and flexible, capable of meeting the changing protocols, applications and workflows of both high throughput and benchtop sequencing platforms."

"As one of the first Ion Torrent PGM service providers, EdgeBio is a pioneer in sequencing sample prep and bioinformatics, and we are excited to be working with them to automate the 5500xl, SOLiD 4, and PGM chemistry," said Kevin Hrusovsky, President and CEO of Caliper Life Sciences.  "Caliper has developed a complete sequencing sample preparation suite that is versatile across multiple chemistry solutions.  Caliper's suite integrates library construction, sequence capture, quantification, and quality control metrics.  The collaboration with EdgeBio will allow us to expand our automation and microfluidic technologies to SOLiD and Ion Torrent users."

Caliper has developed a complete suite of next generation sequencing tools, including the Sciclone® NGS Workstation for library construction and sequence capture protocols, the high throughput LabChip® GX for library quantification and quality control, and the preparative LabChip XT that replaces the highly labor-intensive and inconsistent gel isolation steps for library preparation. For additional information about Caliper's solutions for high throughput sequencing, please visit www.caliperls.com/genomics.

About EdgeBio

Edge BioSystems, Inc. (EdgeBio) is a private company devoted to simplifying and improving research technology for the global biotechnology community. For twenty years EdgeBio has created products and kits targeted to the DNA sequencing community.  We have recently expanded this effort to include sequencing services with a focus on generating next-generation sequencing data.  We have also assembled an experienced bioinformatics team capable of helping scientists interpret the complex data sets created by these next-generation platforms.  To learn more about us please visit www.edgebio.com.  

About Caliper Life Sciences

Caliper is a premier provider of cutting-edge technologies enabling researchers in the life sciences industry to create life-saving and enhancing medicines and diagnostic tests more quickly and efficiently. Caliper is aggressively innovating new technology to bridge the gap between in vitro assays and in vivo results and then translating those results into cures for human disease. Caliper's portfolio of offerings includes state-of-the-art microfluidics, lab automation & liquid handling, optical imaging technologies, and discovery & development outsourcing solutions. For more information please visit www.caliperLS.com.

Caliper, LabChip, and Sciclone are registered trademarks of Caliper Life Sciences, Inc. EdgeBio is a registered trademark of Edge BioSystems, Inc.

SOURCE Caliper Life Sciences, Inc.