redherring.com
"...One example of what Mr. Nelsen terms "Moore's Law
applied to chemistry" is the spate of "gene chip"
companies like Affymetrix (see "Gene Genie"), Hyseq,
and Synteni (recently acquired by Incyte) that develop
semiconductors for analyzing genetic samples. Gene chips,
which contain reams of genetic information stamped onto
silicon, allow many more tests than previously possible.
Nevertheless, Mr. Nelsen sees a market for companies
that are "more profound" than Affymetrix and its
competitors. He cites Caliper Technologies, a Palo Alto
startup that develops what it calls a "laboratory on a chip,"
as a company that's taking high-throughput screening to
the next level. Unlike gene chip companies, whose
products perform fixed functions, Caliper claims that its
chips can conduct a wide range of tests on varying
substances like proteins, carbohydrates, and cells. Caliper
has raised $36.7 million from Arch, Avalon, Falcon,
Venrock Associates, Aspen Ventures, and CIP
Capital, as well as from various pharmaceutical
companies and individuals..." |
