Two Pore Guys and Maxim Integrated Announce Technology Collaboration and Investment

Two Pore Guys (2PG) announced today that it is collaborating with Maxim Integrated Products, Inc. (NASDAQ: MXIM), on a series of analog signal processing technologies for 2PG's solid-state nanopore diagnostic testing platform. As part of this collaboration, Maxim has invested in 2PG through its venture arm Maxim Ventures.

2PG has developed a hand-held, single-molecule diagnostic testing platform called the MoM™, which stands for Molecule Meter. It is the only diagnostics technology that uses silicon nanopore chips for both nucleic acids and protein detection with single-molecule precision using strictly electronic signals. A small voltage causes individual molecules to be pulled through the nanopore chip, producing unique current impedance signatures that characterize each molecule with high accuracy and fast time to results.

"Our MoM relies on chips and components designed to produce analog signals with very low noise and very high sample rates, a technology space in which Maxim Integrated is an industry leader," said Dan Heller, Chief Executive Officer of Two Pore Guys. "Maxim's chip sets optimize these aspects of our sensing capabilities, yielding much higher resolution of molecular structures, types and sizes, thereby allowing for better discrimination of molecules, from very small proteins and other analytes, to features of DNA and RNA. We will be working with Maxim to build customized, dedicated chips that further reduce cost, size, and power, while improving field robustness."

Chris Neil, Head of Maxim Ventures, said, "Maxim sees the life sciences markets as a new digital frontier. Because Two Pore Guys' technology can sense and analyze data about life forms at the molecular level, it could transform healthcare and beyond, into global agricultural and environmental applications, including basic science research. By covering all that in such a small, simple, inexpensive form factor, this technology has the potential to radically change how life science is practiced. The collaboration between Maxim and Two Pore Guys is a creative blend of life sciences with electronics to create something greater than the sum of the parts."

2PG's investors include a combination of undisclosed existing investors and corporations that provide the company with core technologies. "Building a high-volume supply chain takes time and close working relationships with technology providers," Heller added. "We see great benefit in having these companies as investors, as it brings relationships closer and accelerates production."

About Two Pore Guys

In April 2017, Khosla Ventures provided Two Pore Guys (2PG) with a $25 million series A round. In October 2017, 2PG announced a development agreement with Monsanto to use 2PG's technology to detect traits in crops, pests and pathogens. To date, more than 33 tests have been developed on the 2PG platform for partners in human diagnostics and agriculture. 2PG recently completed a liquid biopsy study at the University of California, San Francisco showing its MoM™ was as sensitive and accurate as ddPCR in detecting cell-free cancer DNA from blood and urine samples of patients with confirmed colon and pancreatic cancer.

2PG has developed a handheld, single-molecule sensing platform with the accuracy, precision, and sensitivity of reference lab equipment and sample-in, results-out capability. The core technology includes solid-state, nanopore-based sensors that can detect nucleic acids and proteins and other analytes in human, animal, agriculture, and environmental samples. The battery-operated device is ideal for point-of-use applications. The easy-to-use platform is designed to sync with a smartphone or computer for further analysis and data sharing, including integration with electronic health records. Founded in 2011, the company is based in Santa Cruz, Calif. For more information, visit www.twoporeguys.com.

About Maxim Integrated and Maxim Ventures

Maxim Integrated empowers design innovation by developing innovative analog and mixed-signal products and technologies to make systems smaller and smarter, with enhanced security and increased energy efficiency. Through its venture group called Maxim Ventures it invests in new businesses that are "beyond the chip." We leverage Maxim's enabling sensor and integrated circuit technologies and use that know-how as the basis to help build companies that extend up the data-flow value chain into equipment, systems, software and services. Visit us at http://www.maximventures.com.

View source version on businesswire.com: http://www.businesswire.com/news/home/20180109005821/en/