PacBio to acquire Apton Biosystems for $110m.

PacBio, a developer of high-quality, highly accurate sequencing solutions, agreed to acquire Apton Biosystems, a company developing a high throughput short-read sequencer using state-of-the-art optics and image processing, for $110m. "I am impressed with Apton's progress in developing a novel, high throughput sequencing platform that has the potential to deliver very low-cost sequencing at tremendous scale. By integrating our highly accurate SBB technology with Apton's advanced optics and image processing capabilities, PacBio expects to commercialize a high throughput short-read platform faster than we had planned. This acquisition is consistent with our strategy to develop a multiproduct short-read sequencing portfolio alongside our long-read sequencing platforms, giving us an opportunity to reach an even greater portion of the multi-billion-dollar sequencing market," Christian Henry, PacBio President and CEO.