Tepnel Life Sciences acquisition facilitates expansion into clinical genotyping

International molecular diagnostics and research products and services group Tepnel Life Sciences has acquired laboratory service providers Wildlife DNA Services and Food DNA Services, both of which are based at the University of Wales.

Food DNA Services provides high quality genetic information for identifying food composition and origins, and will be integrated into Tepnel's existing food safety business. Wildlife DNA Services is an established provider of genotyping services, specifically in the area of wildlife crime investigation and wildlife conservation. The acquisition will accelerate Tepnel's entry into the clinical genotyping market, broadening its service offering to the pharmaceutical industry.

Tepnel's pharmaceutical services division is relocating to a new state-of-the-art facility in Livingston, Scotland. The facility will accommodate Tepnel's protein analysis and genomic testing laboratories as well as the company's analytical chemistry, bioanalysis and microbiology facilities. It will also be used to develop epigenetic and next generation genotyping capabilities.

Wildlife DNA Services will be integrated into this high throughput genotyping service and supply the hands-on expertise necessary to facilitate Tepnel's entry into the clinical genotyping marketplace.

Clinical genotyping is a growing area of genetic analysis with the potential to lead to personalised medicine in the future. It works by linking a patient's genetic makeup to their response to particular drugs, enabling specialists to establish which treatment will benefit an individual.

"These are niche businesses and we anticipate significant benefits from having acquired highly trained staff, proven capabilities and scientific expertise and instrumentation," said Tepnel's ceo, Ben Matzilevich.