US-based personal genomics platform operator Helix closed a series B round featuring genomics technology producer Illumina and medical research and services provider Mayo Clinic at $200m yesterday.
The round was closed out with an investment by Singaporean state-owned firm Temasek. It was led by DFJ and also featured fellow venture capital firm Kleiner Perkins Caufield & Byers and private equity firms Sutter Hill Ventures and Warburg Pincus.
Helix runs an online marketplace where personal genomics products and services can be bought from a network of 20 partners. The company collects a DNA sample from a user once and outsources the data to the partners, managing the sequencing and data storage itself.
Illumina co-launched Helix and remains its largest shareholder, also supplying technology for the company’s sequencing laboratory. The series B proceeds will be used to expand Helix’s marketplace from 35 to about 50 products by the end of 2018.
Helix CEO Robin Thurston said: “Temasek was the perfect partner for us to continue our growth into the rapidly expanding consumer genomics market both here in the United States and as we look to expand internationally in the coming years.
“Their focus on investing in companies that truly want to change the world was perfectly aligned with our mission at Helix. This investment further advances our goal to continue to bring accurate health products to the market with partners like Mayo Clinic.”
Illumina, Mayo Clinic, Warburg Pincus and Sutter Hill Ventures had previously invested more than $100m in Helix at the time of its launch in 2015.