PreOmics announces closing of Series B financing to accelerate the development of proteomics tools and consumables
PreOmics offers advanced automation solutions and high-performance consumables for deep proteomics for biopharma and clinical research
19 Jan 2022
Industry news
PreOmics GmbH, a Martinsried, Germany-based developer of innovative automation and sample preparation tools and consumables for unbiased, deep proteomics analysis by mass spectrometry, has raised €13.5m in a Series B financing round provided by Bruker Corporation. PreOmics was founded in 2016 by Dr. Garwin Pichler and Dr. Nils A. Kulak as a spin-out company from the laboratory of leading proteomics researcher Professor Matthias Mann at the Max Planck Institute of Biochemistry in Martinsried.
PreOmics’ innovative sample processing technologies for mass spectrometry-based protein analysis are complementary to Bruker’s high-performance scientific instruments, as well as to proteomics mass spectrometry systems by other leading proteomics companies. Close collaboration synergies are expected to broaden the market opportunities for both PreOmics’ BeatBox platform technologies and Bruker’s timsTOF 4D proteomics platform with more complete, automated workflow solutions for academic and clinical researchers, for biomarker discovery and diagnostics companies, as well as for CRO and biopharmaceutical companies.
Dr. Garwin Pichler, Co-Founder and Managing Director of PreOmics, commented: “We are excited to increase R&D, marketing, and sales investments, and are pleased to have Bruker as a collaborator and major investor. Bruker shares our vision for advanced proteomic discovery processes for everyone, and a commitment to accelerate PreOmics’ growth. Our existing and future customers and partners will benefit from accelerated investments at PreOmics and from proteomics solution synergies to extend our product offerings and global presence.”
Dr. Nils A. Kulak, Co-Founder and Managing Director of PreOmics, added: “We see a bright future for PreOmics’ research, development, and commercialization efforts, now accelerated by the Series B primary investments and Bruker as partner and scientific collaborator. Our novel BeatBox technology is seamlessly compatible with PreOmics’ proteomic sample preparation technologies and in combination with the timsTOF Pro provides end-to-end workflows for processing large tissue biobanks. Furthermore, we aim to develop integrated and automated BeatBox-based workflow solutions for every experience level and throughput need, while providing highest performance levels for unbiased, deep, and comprehensive proteomics research.”
In conjunction with the Series B financing, several early investors in PreOmics, such as High-Tech Gründerfonds and Think.Health Ventures, as well as certain business angels, have successfully sold their PreOmics shares to Bruker in a parallel secondary transaction, and Bruker is now a majority investor in PreOmics. Financial details of the secondary transactions were not disclosed.
Dr. Bernd Goergen, Partner with HTGF, commented on the successful exit: “The fact that our time as a seed investor in Preomics has come to an end already after 5 years is proof of the fantastic performance of both the management and the extremely innovative technology. Thank you, Garwin and Nils, for having us support a part of your journey. Joining forces with Bruker now paves 2 the way for setting gold standards in protein sample preparation and will make proteome analysis easier and more reliable than ever.”
Dr. Michael Ruoff of Think.Health Ventures said: “Think.Health is grateful for having shared an important part of PreOmics’ success story, which will continue also beyond our investment with the great support by Bruker. We appreciate Garwin and Nils as exceptional scientists and visionary entrepreneurs – a rare combination that we definitely need more of in Germany.”
Dr. Frank H. Laukien, President and CEO of Bruker Corporation, stated: “We are very pleased to invest in PreOmics, a leading proteomics sample preparation, automation, and consumables company, with this Series B primary financing. By also acquiring a majority investment in PreOmics, Bruker further expands its proteomics vision to include the unique PreOmics sample preparation technologies, as well as more comprehensive, automated, robust, and reproducible workflows and consumables for translational, biomarker and biopharma proteomics research.”