February 04, 2009 11:00 ET

Linkage Biosciences Secures Series A Financing

SAN FRANCISCO, CA--(Marketwire - February 4, 2009) - Linkage Biosciences Inc., a developer of molecular diagnostic products designed to streamline complex genetic testing, has completed a Series A financing led by Greenhouse Capital Partners and James R. Fisher, managing member of Fisher Capital Corp. II LLC, a firm that works exclusively with private equity firm Kohlberg Kravis Roberts & Co.

The $2 million Series A funding round will be used to continue the development and marketing of Linkage Biosciences' line of diagnostic products. The company's proprietary molecular diagnostics technologies and innovations will address human leukocyte antigen (HLA) typing for organ transplantation, while further development is underway on a portfolio of products in other areas of transplantation and various complex genetic disorders.

"Our unique advantages are speed and simplicity while achieving superior accuracy," said Zachary Antovich, president and CEO of Linkage Biosciences. "Our tests generate results much faster, with far less effort, than anything else available in the marketplace. We are pleased to have the support and experience of Greenhouse Capital and Jim Fisher as we begin to commercialize our products and expand our presence in the marketplace."

"Linkage Biosciences' initial testing has yielded exceptional results in tissue typing applications, and we now see the company moving to a second level of growth and development, proving that it can create an entire portfolio of molecular diagnostic products to bring to market," said Peter Henig, managing partner of Greenhouse Capital. "We are thrilled to be an investment partner in the company's growth and execution at this time. We believe this is an ideal time for Linkage Bioscience to initiate its market rollout strategy as the technology has surpassed significant milestones."

The company also announced that Rebecca Bishop and Pascal Villiger have joined the Board of Directors. Ms. Bishop is currently a manager with Affymetrix, Inc. and Mr. Villiger is an investment professional within the private equity division of CalSTRS.

In addition to its Board of Directors, Linkage Biosciences has a highly regarded Scientific Advisory Board of industry experts, including:

--  F. Carl Grumet, M.D., Emeritus Professor of Pathology and Emeritus
    Director, Stanford Histocompatibility Laboratory, Stanford University
--  Clifford Lowell, M.D., Ph.D., Professor and Chair of the Department of
    Laboratory Medicine, University of California, San Francisco
--  Rade Drmanac, Ph.D., Chief Science Officer, Complete Genomics
--  David Ginzinger, Ph.D., Principal, DGG Consulting
    

About Greenhouse Capital Partners

Greenhouse Capital Partners, a seed-stage venture capital firm dedicated to fostering innovation in cleantech and select other emerging technologies, provides strategic guidance as well as seed and Series A financing to companies at their earliest stages of creation. Founded in 2006, Greenhouse Capital is located in Sausalito, California. For more information, please visit www.greenhousecapital.net.

About Fisher Capital Corp.

Fisher Capital Corp. II LLC, is a private equity firm managed by James R. Fisher that works exclusively with private equity firm Kohlberg Kravis Roberts & Co.. Mr. Fisher serves on the Board of Directors of First Data Corp. and Coverzones Inc. and is a Trustee of Lafayette College, The American Foundation for the Blind and The National World War II Museum.

About Linkage Biosciences

Linkage Biosciences Inc. is a pioneer in the development of molecular diagnostic products designed to streamline complex genetic testing. For more information, please visit www.linkagebio.com.