Diffinity Genomics

Diffinity Genomics, Inc. operated in the biotechnology sector, focusing on the development of technologies for rapid nucleic acid isolation and analysis. Founded in 2005 by individuals including Lewis J. Rothberg and Mike Riedlinger, the company carved out a niche in the DNA purification and molecular diagnostics markets. The firm was established to create single-use disposable products for medical, industrial, and research applications.

The company's core offering was the Diffinity RapidTip®, a functional pipette tip designed for the swift purification of DNA from Polymerase Chain Reaction (PCR) processes. This product addressed the need to remove impurities such as dNTPs, primers, and primer-dimers from PCR reactions, which is a critical step before downstream applications like DNA sequencing and SNP analysis. The RapidTip utilized a proprietary adsorption technology with a differential affinity for various PCR components, enabling it to purify DNA in a single step within a minute. This method promised over 90% recovery of pure DNA fragments ranging from 100 base pairs to 10 kilobases. The business model centered on selling these consumable products to life science researchers and laboratories, distributing globally through agreements with partners like Sigma-Aldrich and Fisher Scientific.

Financially, Diffinity Genomics secured approximately $1.46 million in funding through various stages, including a seed round in 2009 and a later-stage venture round in 2011, with investors such as Allyn Family Capital Fund, Excell Partners, and LaunchCapital. The company also received substantial non-dilutive funding from the Small Business Innovation Research (SBIR) program, totaling nearly $2 million for projects aimed at enhancing nucleic acid purification technologies. The leadership team included Joseph Marasco, who served as President and CEO from 2012, and Lewis J. Rothberg, who acted as Chief Technology Officer and was an inventor of the core technology. On August 6, 2015, the assets of Diffinity Genomics were acquired by Chiral Technologies, a subsidiary of Daicel Corporation, a move intended to expand Chiral's footprint in the bio-separation and purification market. Following the acquisition, Diffinity Genomics became a new business unit within Chiral Technologies.

Keywords: nucleic acid purification, PCR cleanup, DNA isolation, molecular diagnostics, RapidTip, pipette tip purification, life science research, DNA sequencing preparation, genomic tools, bioseparation technology, DNA fragment recovery, single-step purification, dNTP removal, primer dimer removal, diagnostic equipment, biotechnology consumables, post-PCR cleanup, sanger sequencing, microarray printing, SNP analysis