We represented Base Genomics and its majority shareholders, Oxford Sciences Innovation and Ollie Waterhouse, on the sale of the company to Exact Sciences for $410m.

Base Genomics is an epigenetics company working to develop a break-through technology to sequence DNA methylation invented at the Ludwig Institute for Cancer Research Branch at the University of Oxford. The core technology, named TAPS, measures changes in DNA over time and is one of the newest and most promising approaches for early cancer detection from a simple blood test. We have represented Base Genomics since its inception, advising on its licensing arrangements and seed funding round.

The Bristows deal team was led by Partners David Horner and Marek Petecki, alongside Senior Associate Sophie Rees and Associates Louisa Jacobs and Samuel Munday. William Blair served as financial advisor to Base Genomics on the deal; XMS Capital and K&L Gates advised Exact Sciences.