
Oxford Nanopore Announces Strategic Acquisition of Northern Nanopore Instruments to Boost Solid-State Nanopore Development Program
11-9-23 (by: Scott Gleason) Oxford Nanopore Technologies has announced the acquisition of Northern Nanopore Instruments (NNi), a Canadian biotechnology startup specializing in innovative solid-state nanopore fabrication technology. This strategic acquisition is set to enhance Oxford Nanopore’s solid-state nanopore expertise and patent portfolio, underlining the company’s commitment to continuous innovation and expansion of its longer-term technology pipeline. NNi stands out for its expertise in low-cost and precise solid-state nanopore fabrication with in-situ size controls. The company currently manufactures solid-state nanopore materials utilized by researchers to explore the potential of solid-state nanopore-based sensing. The NNi team will collaborate with Oxford Nanopore to further develop and scale solid-state nanopore fabrication technology, with the University of Ottawa engaging in a research collaboration. The ultimate goal is to work towards creating arrays of solid-state nanopores.
Nanopores, whether biological or solid-state, hold potential as part of sensing technology. They have the capability to analyze single biological molecules such as DNA/RNA, proteins, or metabolites, as well as non-biological analytes. Oxford Nanopore has already commercialized a high-performance DNA/RNA sequencing technology based on engineered protein nanopores, forming the core of its product development pipeline and scaling ambitions. Solid-state nanopores, with their unique features, align with Oxford Nanopore’s long-term vision of enabling the analysis of various analytes and product form factors, extending the possibilities of their technology.
Spike Willcocks, Chief Strategy Officer of Oxford Nanopore, expressed excitement about unlocking new insights through the acquisition of NNi. Solid-state nanopores, distinct from the biological nanopores currently in use, offer different features suitable for sensing molecules beyond nucleic acids. The acquisition is not only a testament to the company’s commitment to innovation but also a strategic move to invest in the Canadian biotech ecosystem and contribute to the evolution of nanopore-based sensing in genomics and proteomics.