Etaluma, Inc. Announces Corporate Launch

Company will focus on disruptive technologies in bio-analysis

January 21, 2009 – (Carlsbad, CA) – Etaluma, Inc., an early-stage biotechnology company focused on the development of low-cost and accessible bio-analytical tools, today announced the formal launch of company operations. Etaluma was founded with the mission of bringing analytical and diagnostic instrumentation to a greater spectrum of users by decreasing the cost and complexity of these devices and encouraging the development of applications for their use. Etaluma is actively looking to provide cost-efficient hardware to reagent and kit manufacturers who want to expand their market into the economics of smaller labs, individual researchers, and third-world settings.

“The Pareto principle, or 80/20 rule applies; 20 percent of the features deliver 80 percent of the value. We think we have dramatically simplified instrumentation that will still offer 80 percent of what scientists want.” said Chris Shumate, President, CEO and Co-Founder. “Often traditional analytical instrumentation is expensive, complicated, and loaded with features that may not be required. Etaluma’s products focus on three things: ease of use, continuous availability, and low price. Convenience; having it where and when you want it is often more important than having every non-essential feature.”

Key Principals Bring Expertise and Industry Experience
Etaluma brings important technical and management skills to the task of designing innovative disruptive bio-analytical technologies. Etaluma is led by President, CEO, and Co-Founder Chris Shumate, Ph.D., formerly of Blueshift Biotechnologies, Inc., developer of the IsoCyte fluorescence laser scanning cytometer. The company’s other founders include Brian Rasnow, Ph.D., formerly of Amgen’s Research Automation Technologies Group; and Lane Niles, Ph.D., previously of Biosite, Aurora Discovery, Genoptix, and others. The primary goal and challenge for Etaluma’s diverse team of scientists and engineers is to implement these powerful core technologies in cost-effective formats, thereby extending their availability beyond well-funded laboratories.

Etaluma, Inc. is a privately funded technology company headquartered in North San Diego County. Etaluma is focused on bringing analytical and diagnostic instrumentation to a greater spectrum of users by decreasing the cost and complexity of these devices and encouraging the development of applications for their use. The primary goal and challenge for Etaluma’s diverse team of scientists and engineers is to implement these powerful core technologies in cost-effective formats, thereby extending their availability beyond well-funded laboratories. Moreover, Etaluma is actively looking to provide hardware to reagent and kit manufacturers who want to expand their market into the economics of smaller labs, individual researchers, and third-world settings.