GAITHERSBURG, MD – OpGen Inc., a molecular diagnostics company selling software to visualize genomic data, has raised $2 million of a $4.05 million debt and options offering it expects to close in a year, according to a regulatory filing.

The company disclosed the funding in a filing with the U.S. Securities and Exchange Commission. The current round includes 12 investors so far.

The company raised a $23.6 million round in 2007 led by CHL Medical Partners, Highland Capital Partners and Versant Ventures with Mason Wells, a previous investor, participating. In-Q-Tel, the venture firm connected to the U.S. Intelligence community, also invested, as has CEO Evan Jones’ jVen Capital.

OpGen delivers breakthrough capabilities to identify microorganisms using a unique method to analyze DNA extracted directly from the microbial cells. “Optical Mapping” has been used by organizations worldwide for comparative genomic analysis of a range of organisms of importance to human health, including tracing the origins of food-poisoning cases.

The technology was used by the FDA to successfully investigate the E. coli outbreak in 2006.

The company’s technology may replace the lengthy process of isolating and growing microorganisms from clinical samples.

Food and  pharmaceutical companies, sequence centers and academic laboratories worldwide are some of OpGen’s customers.

When In-Q-Tel invested, Troy M. Pearsall, its executive vice president, said, “The technology, and provides the ability to generate a fully assembled microbial optical map within hours of DNA extraction. This sort of rapid microbial analysis is an invaluable capability with specific applicability to the challenges facing the U.S. intelligence community.”

By Allan Maurer

Online: www.opgen.com

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