NEC, SomaLogic sign agreement to explore aptamer related businesses in life sciences, healthcare markets

NEC Corporation (NEC) and privately held SomaLogic, Inc. announced today that they have signed an agreement to explore aptamer related businesses in the life sciences and healthcare markets. In addition, NEC announced that it has made an equity investment in SomaLogic in support of a long-term strategic relationship between the two companies.

The agreement establishes a framework for the two companies to develop and implement applications within NEC's cloud-based services platform to enhance SomaLogic's products for life sciences research and diagnostics. Customers will include pharmaceutical companies, research laboratories, and practicing physicians, with the eventual goal of expanding into personal healthcare services.

"NEC is pleased to work with one of the most exciting companies emerging in the field of molecular diagnostics," said Tadashi Higashino, Senior Vice President, NEC. "We believe that both companies can leverage their unique experiences and integrate them to provide for better healthcare, and thus enhance people's lives, worldwide."

SomaLogic has developed a breakthrough proteomics platform for both biomarker discovery and diagnostics applications, which can accurately and reliably detect nearly a thousand proteins to identify disease-associated protein signatures from a single drop of blood (i.e. approximately 15uL). The parties envision integrating this powerful new technology with NEC's BIOPRISM, the life science research support system, and other NEC data analysis tools, including its SVM+ expertise. "This agreement gives us a firm basis on which to create new possibilities for the future," said Larry Gold, SomaLogic's Founder and CEO. "We are delighted with NEC's foresight, and we look forward to working with our NEC colleagues to find efficient and effective ways to optimize the research and clinical impact of our work."