COMPANY PROFILE

Asper Biotech is a leading Estonian biotechnology company. Since its start of operations in 1999 with 4 scientists, Asper has grown to become the biggest biotech exporter in Estonia. The company has currently 15 genetic tests on the market with sales rate growing every year. Asper employees over 40 people among them scientists, technical personnel, management, and can expand its operations quickly when needed.

Asper introduced the ISO 9001 quality control system in 2000 and upgraded to ISO 9001:2000 in 2003. Presently the whole lab process work as well as management is controlled by the system. A LIMS is in place for tracking lab processes.

The R&D projects in 1999 and 2000 prepared us for launching our technological platform and tests available for servicing clients. Simultaneously, the results of the development projects were published in major international scientific journals including Nature, PNAS etc. This was an important step for validation of the technology platform for international clients.

Long-lasting partnerships and client relationships, as well as projects from the European Commission signal of Asper's superb scientific relevance and professional approach to its business. Asper has been involved in various grant applications during the first two calls for proposals in FP6 Program and two projects were successfully funded (Hotsolute and Mutp.53).

Asper's business model is conducting research projects for the world's science, research and development organisations. The main offerings include custom genotyping services, genotyping software, genotyping hardware, and genotyping consumables.

During the five years period Asper has developed its expertise in developing and validating highly customized SNP/mutation screening assays. After establishing the tests DNA samples screenings will be performed. Bioinformatics expertise allows us to carefully design all the assays as well as analyze and validate the results. Numerous custom developments have been already published and more will be out soon.

Together with our partners, we have developed and launched a number of DNA tests like: Thalassemia (Clinical Chemistry, 2002), Cystic Fibrosis, DNA Repair, Ashkenazi Jewish diseases and  eye diseases related tests: ABCR(ABCA4) , LCA, Usher, AR-RP, AD-RP, BBS, ADOA, Corneal dystrophy, Congenital stationary night blindness and Vitelliform macular dystrophy. The list of the assays will be expanded during the next years.

The summary of all tests currently provided by Asper  

The next important step for Asper will be the entry to the diagnostic market, whereas the ophthalmic disease spectra will be the initial core unit while Asper owns a semi-exclusive license for ABCR gene related diagnostics.

Pharmacogenetics will be another opportunity for Asper, where the precise and reliable APEX technology will be used for establishing genetic tests to be used in personalized medicine.

LANDMARKS

1999 - the company opens its 3600 sq. feet lab and starts operations.

2000 - a successful capital investment is carried out from SEAF Fund. The proceeds are used for development of the methods. First products are introduced to the market and consumer agreements made. The staff grows to 25.

2001 - sales channels are opened in the US and Asia. An analysis of 1,400 SNP on the human chromosome 22 are performed, proving the principle for making chips at the whole genome level.

2003 - Asper starts active promotion of its products in Western- Europe and the US. Number of clients is increased twofold.

2004 - Asper focuses on providing service based on its library of DNA tests, e.g. Leber congenital amaurosis mutation detection test, TP 53 resequencing test, ABCR gene mutation detection test and thalassemia mutation detection test.

2005 - the list of DNA tests is constantly expanding