WaferGen Biosystems introduced a new service for gene-expression profiling of thousands of genes using its SmartChip™ real-time PCR system. WaferGen will offer its pathway-specific gene panels to universities and pharmaceutical and diagnostic companies that are looking to discover and validate new biomarkers.

WaferGen also reported that it is moving to a new facility to support the SmartChip services and the expansion of manufacturing and R& amp;D functions.

The new WaferGen SmartChip service will be made available to a few select customers in December and made more broadly available in the first quarter of 2010. The SmartChip service offerings will be expanded early next year to include a miRNA expression panel. Researchers will get early access to the technology and the benefit of new and upcoming gene panels.

The initial product to be run on the SmartChip platform is the SmartChip Human Oncology Gene Panel that provides pathway based gene-expression profiling for oncology. It may also be used for immunology, metabolic, and stem cell research.

Caliper Life Sciences’ contract research organization, Caliper Discovery Alliances & amp; Services (CDAS), signed a deal with Prestwick Chemical to provide customized outsourced medicinal chemistry and in vitro and in vivo preclinical biology programs for drug discovery research.

The nonexclusive co-marketing agreement "offers complete chemistry and biology research programs to help pharmaceutical and biotechnology customers increase identification of lead compounds,” according to David Manyak, executive vp, drug discovery services, Caliper Life Sciences.

Caliper’s expertise lies in its in vitro and in vivo research capabilities while& nbsp; Prestwick brings its knowledge on medicinal chemistry for hit discovery, hit validation, hit to lead expansion, and lead optimization to the table. Clients will be able to screen compounds from the Prestwick Chemical smart libraries through CDAS in a panel of over 1,000 optimized in vitro assays to assess drug property improvement such as selectivity, potency and toxicity, notes Manyak.

"Outsourcing complete chemistry-biology research programs answers an industry need for increased productivity, efficiency and turnaround time in the drug development process,” he continues.

"By providing integrated chemistry and biology programs, researchers now have a unique opportunity to access combined best in class chemistry and preclinical biology research that is invaluable in identifying safe and effective new drug candidates while minimizing commitment of internal resources."

KAI Pharmaceuticals’ KAI-4169 will be the second clinical candidate to receive Formatech’s manufacturing services under its Fillanthropy program. Under this program, Formatech will donate the services required to aseptically fill and finish one lot of the drug product for use in support of KAI’s upcoming clinical trials.

KAI-4169 is being evaluated for use in the treatment of secondary hyperparathyroidism (SHPT) in kidney disease patients. Formatech plans to complete the production run of KAI-4169 in the first quarter of 2010.

The Drugs for Neglected Diseases initiative (DNDi) has gained access to the Pfizer library of novel chemical entities. DNDi will screen the compounds for their potential to be developed into new treatments for human African trypanosomiasis (HAT), visceral leishmaniasis (VL), and Chagas disease.

Under the agreement, scientists in institutes affiliated with DNDi will test at least 150,000 compounds in the Pfizer library against Trypanosoma brucei, Leishmania donovani, and Trypanosoma cruzi, the parasites that cause HAT, VL, and Chagas disease, respectively. Researchers will seek compounds that show initial activity against the various parasites.

Horizon Discovery entered a four-year collaboration with Novartis. The agreement involves the use of Horizon’s Genesis™ gene-engineering platform to develop a broad panel of custom-generated, genetically defined human X-Man cancer models for use by Novartis in its drug discovery programs.

Horizon will receive up-front, milestone, and renewal fees. The deal is the second between the two companies. In December 2008, Horizon inked a commercial deal with Novartis Institute of Biomedical Research relating to ongoing access to a panel of X-Man cell-lines.

Lab901 and Biofortuna are collaborating on the optimization of Biofortuna’s range of multiplex PCR diagnostic kits for use on Lab901’s automated ScreenTape PCR platform. Biofortuna’s kits encompass diagnostics for celiac disease and other HLA-related disorders including reactive arthritis, diabetes, and drug hypersensitivity.

"Biofortuna’s blend of easy-to-use, one-step PCR technology and multiplexing capabilities means we are confident of quickly taking market share”, comments Mike Bunce, Ph.D., CEO. "Having evaluated several automated systems, we have chosen to work with Lab901 because of the ease of use, cost-effectiveness, and reproducibility of the ScreenTape platform.”

First launched in 2007, ScreenTape is now sold in more than 20 countries through a network of distribution partners. Lab901 currently sells ScreenTape systems optimized for use with the Seegene Seeplex kits for the detection of infectious diseases such as respiratory viruses, sepsis, sexually transmitted infections, and diarrheal diseases.

Lab901 also recently introduced two new versions of ScreenTape for protein and RNA analysis, targeted at the biomedical research market. These new products are currently being sold directly throughout Europe, and global rollout is expected to start in 2010.

In September Lab901 raised £2.4 million in an equity funding from its consortium of investors. The company aims to use the cash to expand international sales of its ScreenTape laboratory-analysis platform and further develop its product range.

Sigma-Aldrich entered into an exclusive, worldwide distribution agreement to offer Stemgent's portfolio of lentivirus-based delivery systems for the generation of induced pluripotent stem (iPS) cells. The reprogramming technologies offered under the terms of the agreement involve viral vectors from Stemgent, lentivirus technology from Sigma-Aldrich, and dox Inducible expression from TET Systems.

"Induced pluripotent stem cells have emerged as immensely useful tools for the modeling of human diseases, research and development of therapeutics, regenerative medicine, and the development of personalized cell-replacement therapies,” comments David Smoller, Ph.D., president of Sigma-Aldrich's research biotech business unit.

Life Technologies is providing three SOLiD™ 3 Plus Systems to the European research and clinical communities through the Eastern Sequence and Informatics Hub at Addenbrooke’s Hospital in Cambridge. The technology will be leveraged in diseases such as cancer, diabetes, and neurological disorders to advance targeted medical resequencing and whole-transcriptome analysis research studies.

The hub was established with funding from the Medical Research Council and from the University of Cambridge’s Clinical School and NIHR Biomedical Research Centre to accelerate the use of genetic information to help identify new therapies, diagnostics, and preventive strategies.

Research reagents supply company Axxora negotiated North American distribution rights to Sweden-based Olink Bioscience’s Duolink® reagent product line. The Duolink products are based on Olink’s in situ PLA™ (proximity ligation assay) technology, which the company claims enables researchers to detect and individually count single endogenous proteins, protein-protein interactions, and protein phosphorylations in fixed cells and tissue samples.

The PLA technology hinges on two unique bi-functional PLA probes, each of which consists of an antibody attached to a unique synthetic oligonucleotide reporter. The approach requires positive identification of two different epitopes on the same protein or complex. This results in what Olink claims to be profoundly enhanced specificity compared with assays that depend on single-binding recognition.

QED Bioscience negotiated a deal to distribute Genovis’ antibody-engineering tools in the U.S. and through its distributors in Europe and Asia. The agreement follows from Genovis’ distribution deal for its transfection, RNAi, imaging, and antibody-engineering products with Bulldog Bio in September. Agreements in other territories are already in place, and in the U.S., Genovis also distributes its products through its own subsidiary.

Sweden-based Genovis is focused on developing technologies for cellular research. Based on its novel nano-induced magnetic transfer (NIMT®) platform, the company currently offers products in the areas of DNA transfection, siRNA delivery, cell labeling, and antibody fragmentation.

Aureus Pharma extended its knowledge-database agreement with sanofi-aventis for an additional three-year term. Aureus will provide new AurSCOPE® knowledge databases and continue to update existing databases for sanofi-aventis’ R& amp;D division.& nbsp;

Aureus’ databases will give sanofi-aventis researchers access to information on therapeutic targets including GPCR protein receptors, nuclear receptors, kinase inhibitors, and ion channels as well as drug-safety data.& nbsp;& nbsp;

The Broad Institute purchased 30 additional Genome Analyzers from Illumina. It has thus increased its total installed base of Illumina systems to 89.& nbsp;

The Genome Analyzer offers a range of supported applications including whole-transcriptome profiling and discovery, epigenetic studies, whole genome resequencing, de novo sequencing, targeted resequencing, ChIP-sequencing, bi-sulfite sequencing (DNA methylation), small RNA, mRNA, tag profiling, and metagenomics.

Sigma-Aldrich negotiated a worldwide license agreement to manufacture and commercialize Polyplus-transfection’s Zip Nucleic Acid (ZNA™) oligonucleotides for research applications. The company points out it will be the first to offer ZNA as custom DNA and RNA oligos to the life science industry.

ZNA’s are oligonucleotides with attached cationic units. Polyplus claims the cationic residues increases the sensitivity of the oligos and results in increased affinity for nucleic acids without the loss of selectivity. Research applications of ZNAs include their use as PCR probes and primers, for in vitro miRNA detection and inhibition, and for siRNA applications.

Lonza launched Cells on Demand™ Cell Culture and Transfection Services as a new offering for assay-ready cells for cell-based screening. Lonza says the new services cover bulk cell production, transfection services, cell-isolation services, and media production.

Large-scale manufacturing is offered for cell lines, transfected cells, and primary cells including Clonetics® primary cells and Poietics® stem cells. The transfection services include expertise with Amaxa® Nucleofactor® technology for generating stable clones and transiently transfected cells as well as Nucleofection® Protocol Optimization and small-scale protein production.

Proven Diagnostics will provide select diagnostic tools from Berkeley HeartLab’s (BHL) menu of cardiovascular tests and services. The co-marketing agreement includes BHL’s 4myheart cardiovascular disease management program.& nbsp;

Proven Diagnostics will be the first external clinical laboratory to have access to KIF6, BHL’s genetic test. The KIF6 gene encodes kinesin-like protein 6 (KIF6), which is thought to be associated with cardiovascular risk and statin benefit. Testing under the agreement will be performed by BHL.

A new agreement gives Veritas Japan exclusive distribution rights in Japan for ZyGEM's full line of DNA extraction kits. Veritas will also assist ZyGEM in developing and building its OEM business in that country.

ZyGEM's technology uses a thermophilic enzyme to extract DNA from samples using a single closed-tube system. It has been validated for use in highly regulated applications including forensic analysis.

Oncodesign signed a two-year service contract with sanofi-aventis, under which it will develop and provide the latter with exclusive experimental tumor-derived models for different types of cancer. Philippe Genne, Oncodesign CEO, suggests the the contract represents "a first for a service company, since it is a long-term collaboration that calls for us to supply experimental models to sanofi-aventis.”

Oncodesign says that unlike traditional cancer models derived from cultured cell lines, its technology is based on patient-derived tumor tissue. Oncodesign has previously worked with sanofi-aventis on the CReMEC (creating a resource center for experimental cancer models) program. It was initiated in 2005 as part of the Medicin Paris Region competition pole to develop and characterize experimental models of colon cancer.

CLC bio is expanding the distribution of its next-generation sequencing solutions into the Japanese market through a deal with Filgen. "In 2009, we have experienced a considerable increase of interest in our solutions from Japan,” according to director of partner sales at CLC bio, Michael Heltzen.

"This is logically linked with the significant increase of next-generation sequencing instruments being installed, which in turn requires analysis capacity of the huge amounts of data, an area where we excel. We regard the Japanese life science sector as one of the premier markets in Asia and are happy to announce this setup, so we can support our current and upcoming customers in Japan in the best possible way.”

Eurogentec& nbsp;obtained a license from Applied Biosystems to manufacture and sell dual-labeled oligonucleotide probes worldwide for use in the 5´ Nuclease process. This process is one of the key technologies driving real-time PCR assays.& nbsp;

Eurogentec will be able to custom manufacture, market, and sell dual-labeled probes alone as well as in complete kits. These kits may contain dual-labeled probes, primers, and reagents packaged and sold with other components. The agreement grants limited pass-through use rights to Eurogentec’s research customers. The agreement also conveys rights to offer oligonucleotide design services for probes and primers for use in real-time PCR.

The NCI has decided to use NanoString Technologies’ nCounter™ Analysis System at two of its core labs. The technology was selected based on the level of multiplexed gene-expression analysis it offers with high sensitivity and without the need for enzymes as well as its simple workflow. The nCounter Analysis System is composed of a fully automated sample-prep station, a digital analyzer, the CodeSet (molecular barcodes), and reagents needed to perform the analysis.

One system was purchased by the NCI Center for Cancer Research (CCR)& nbsp; and a second by SAIC-Frederick, operations and technical support contractor to NCI-Frederick. CCR investigators have already begun using the nCounter Analysis System in studies related to the mechanisms involved in cancer development. These include investigations into the role of inflammation in cancer and RNAi as well as studies measuring changes in gene expression in response to drug treatment.

Exact Sciences obtained a worldwide license for Hologic’s Invader, Invader plus, and real-time Invader detection chemistries for use in colorectal cancer screening. The Invader chemistry is an accurate, easy-to-use, and rapid molecular detection platform that can be combined with PCR, according to Hologic. Exact anticipates coupling the digital PCR technology it has exclusively licensed from Johns Hopkins University with the quantitative detection capabilities of the Invader chemistry.

Exact states that this deal reinforces its stronghold in the stool-based DNA, or sDNA, screening market. The company’s IP portfolio now includes exclusive licenses to key detection technologies, sDNA testing methods, and important biomarkers, it adds.

NKT Therapeutics (NKTT) is tapping into BioWa's Potelligent® Technology for the development of antibody-dependent cellular cytotoxicity (ADCC) enhanced antibodies. NKTT will use this platform to research and develop antibodies targeting natural killer T cells. BioWa will receive an up-front payment, development milestone payments, and royalties on products.

Potelligent reportedly improves potency and efficacy of antibody therapeutics by enhancing ADCC. It involves the reduction of the amount of fucose in the carbohydrate structure of an antibody using a fucosyltransferase-knockout CHO cell line as a production cell.

Roche Diagnostics will use Kinaxo Biotechnologies’ phosphoproteomics technology, PhosphoScout®, to find biomarkers related to antibody-based therapeutics currently under development at Roche. The technology has been developed as a quantitative phosphoproteomic service, which the company says allows the dissection of cellular signal transduction pathways and their response to drug treatment. The platform is based on mass spectrometry methods, enabling the analysis of 15,000 phosphorylation sites in a single experiment.& nbsp;

The agreement follows just a week after Kinaxo announced a deal with Bayer Vital, under which PhosphoScout® will be used to identify novel biomarkers associated with drug response in a clinical trial evaluating Nexavar® in acute myeloid leukaemia patients.

The Nijmegen Centre for Molecular Life Sciences (NCMLS) installed a Genomatix Genome Analyzer (GGA) at the lab of Henk Stunnenberg, Ph.D. Dr. Stunnenberg’s research focuses on transcription-factor analysis and epigenetic research in the context of health and disease. The Genomatix Genome Analyzer delivers a complete and integrated solution for the downstream analysis of next-generation sequencing data, according to Genomatix Software.

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High Throughput Genomics (HTG) is supplementing its service capabilities through a supply agreement with Roche Nimblegen. The firm will provide HTG with high density, multiplex DNA microarray slides for advanced gene-expression analysis.

HTG will apply its quantitative nuclease protection assay (qNPA) process to the microarrays to enable researchers to quickly and efficiently measure the gene-expression levels in a variety of sample types. Sample preparation using qNPA technology allows for a simpler, more cost-effective workflow versus traditional labeling methods, according to HTG. The Roche NimbleGen multiplex technology offers a cost-effective high-density microarray providing in-depth gene-expression information, the company adds.

Fluofarma signed a multiyear collaboration agreement with Roche focused on developing new tools for predicting the hepatotoxicity of early-stage drug candidates. The companies aim to develop miniaturized cell-based assays using high-throughput flow cytrometry along with computational models for predicting hepatotoxicity and safety profiling of compounds in liver cells.

Fluofarma platforms include automated confocal microscopy, automated flow cytometry, as well as laser scanning cytometry and combine cell-based assays with large-scale analysis. The company claims its& nbsp; technologies enable the simultaneous functional analysis of several molecular events in single cells.

GenoLogics and CLC bio are combining their technologies to provide clients with an end-to-end informatics and analysis solution for next-generation sequencing. The new tool will offer a unified environment for both laboratory/data management and data anlaysis by coupling GenoLogics’ Geneus lab and data-management system for genomics with CLC bio’s CLC Genomics Server, CLC Genomic Workbench, and CLC NGS Cell platforms.

The companies claim that this solution will improve researchers’ ability to aggregate raw data across NGS experiments, from initial sample submission to final analysis. "This way,” notes Thomas Knudsen, CEO at CLC bio, "researchers can keep up with the vast volumes of sequencing data being churned out by high-throughput sequencing machines and quickly turn the massive amounts of raw data into meaningful results.”

Evotec extended and expanded its current research collaboration with Ono Pharmaceutical. The firm will provide additional activities including high-throughput screening, medicinal chemistry, and in vitro pharmacology to find novel, small molecular weight compounds active against an ion channel target selected by Ono. Ono will provide research funding and milestone payments.

Evotec and Ono have collaborated since March 2008, identifying novel inhibitors for a protease target. Within this collaboration, Evotec provides protein crystallography, medicinal chemistry, biology, and ADMET services to Ono with the aim of progressing a compound toward clinical development.& nbsp;

The Advanced Projects Group of The Automation Partnership (TAP) is collaborating with Cellectricon to produce fully automated, high-throughput patch-clamp equipment known as the Dynaflow®HT System.& nbsp;

Patch clamping is used for screening ion channels in drug discovery. The Dynaflow®HT System, which has been developed in collaboration with AstraZeneca in Sweden, is now becoming commercially available and addresses the limits of existing ion-channel screening equipment by combining high levels of automated throughput with accurate and affordable data measurement.& nbsp;

Roche has inked a deal to use Cerep’s BioPrint®, a homogenous pharmacology and ADME database. The BioPrint database is composed of three main data sets: chemical descriptors (structures and chemical information, 2-D and 3-D descriptors), in vitro profiles, and in vivo effects of tested compound.

Cerep will also generate new BioPrint® data on Roche compounds for Roche’s exclusive use. Additionally, the companies will collaborate on further development of BioPrint® and related pharmaco-informatics tools aimed at predicting as early as possible adverse drug reactions that could lead to clinical trial failures.& nbsp;

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Horizon Discovery signed a commercial service agreement with GlaxoSmithKline (GSK) for cancer research. The deal involves the use of Horizon’s X-Man (mutant and normal) cell-line technology for the identification and characterization of novel biomarkers, disease signatures, and therapeutic targets in the field of metabolomics.

"Horizon uses the power of isogenic human cancer models to define how tumors in specific cancer patient-populations become dependent on certain nutrient sources and whether they generate unique metabolite signatures that can be secreted into the bloodstream,” explains Horizon’s CEO, Chris Torrance Ph.D.

Horizon’s X-Man technology comprises a library of genetically defined and isogenic human cell line pairs, which are identical except for the knock-in or knock-out of cancer-causing mutations. The company claims the technology represents the first genetically defined and patient-relevant platform of in vitro models for human cancer. Over the last six months Horizon has signed a variety of X-Man collaborations and service agreements with companies including& nbsp; Genentech, In Silicos, Janssen Pharmaceutica, DxS, and SuperGen.& nbsp;

Cellectis acquired the Vectocell® intracellular delivery technology from Diatos to optimize the efficacy of its drug candidates. This platform reportedly improves the performance of a therapeutic compound by enabling specific entry into the target cell compartment or organ in animals and humans.

It is based on the fusion between the therapeutic protein and an antibody-derived peptide that facilitates passive entry into the cell. Experimental data shows that this targeting technique provokes minimal immunogenicity and thus reportedly offers excellent safety.

Bayer Schering Pharma has inked a deal to evaluate a Compugen-discovered tumor target and its splice variants. Following an initial six-month joint research stage, the agreement provides Bayer with an option for an exclusive, worldwide, royalty-bearing license for development of mAbs and other therapeutic agents addressing these target molecules.

The existence of the target and its splice variants was initially predicted in silico by Compugen through the use of its Monoclonal Antibody Targets Discovery platform. The newly discovered target and its splice variants are variants of a known cancer target for which therapeutic agents are currently in preclinical development by other organizations. Like the known cancer target, this protein molecule and its variants are all trans-membrane proteins. However, each of the Compugen molecules has a unique sequence at the extracellular domain of the protein that enables the development of mAbs specific to each of the respective splice variants.

The University of Miami Miller School of Medicine's John P. Hussman Institute for Human Genomics will use Life Technologies’ products to search for genes that cause autism. The institute purchased two next-generation sequence systems from Applied Biosystems, part of Life Technologies.& nbsp;

The two SOLiD™ System sequencing platforms will be initially used to investigate genes that showed association with autism in their genome-wide study. "What we've been able to do with genotyping has been phenomenal, but it only gives us a portion of the information we need to identify and understand the genetic causes underlying human disease,” says senior co-investigator John R. Gilbert, Ph.D. "Sequencing gets to those causes.”

Sygnature Chemical Services will help Heptares Therapeutics progress one of its internal GPCR programs. Sygnature will use its synthetic chemistry expertise to produce a novel library for Heptares to evaluate against its purified, stabilized, and functional GPCR targets, StaRs™ (stabilised receptors).

This technology involves introducing a small number of point mutations into the structure of a GPCR to improve the molecule's thermostability while preserving its functional and drug-binding conformation and characteristics in detergent-solubilized form. Heptares claims that the StaR technology overcomes problems traditionally associated with inherent instability of GPCRs and for the first time allows drug discovery methods such as crystallization, structure-based design, fragment screening, and ligand interaction analysis to be applied to traditionally intractable GPCRs.

The company's most advanced project results from its discovery of highly novel antagonists of the A2a receptor. It says it plans to look for a development partner in the field of Parkinson's disease early next year.

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BioFocus and DiscoveRx signed a co-marketing agreement that will allow BioFocus to carry out screening for clients using DiscoveRx' PathHunter™ ß-Arresting GPCR screening assay, HitHunter™ cAMP assays, and associated cell lines.

The deal with BioFocus comes just days after DiscoveRx signed a global agreement with GlaxoSmithKline to provide the latter with access to its PathHunter™ ß-Arrestin parental cell lines, clones, and associated reagents for use in GSK's GPCR screening and profiling research. This agreement followed closely behind DiscoveRx and GSK's announcement of a three-way alliance with Medical Research Council Technology, focused on using the PathHunter™ ß-Arrestin assay technology to find binders to orphan GPCRs.

Orion negotiated a collaboration agreement with Finnish company DelSiTech through which Orion will be able to combine DelSiTech’s drug delivery technology with its own drug molecules. DelSiTech will receive milestone and project work-related payments.

The DelSiTech technology has been developed to enable the controlled delivery of a wide range of active ingredients including proteins and even labile viruses. It is based on a silica matrix into which the active ingredient is embedded and can be designed to degrade at a predetermined rate for the controlled release of active molecules.

The Broad Institute of Harvard and MIT has adopted Genedata’s Screener® for small molecule screening. The Screener will be used in the institute’s contribution to the Molecular Libraries and Imaging Initiative funded by the NIH. This NIH program for medical research, composed of nine institutions, conducts high-throughput biological studies of diverse small molecules to advance new drug discoveries.

Researchers at the Broad Institute are using Screener’s Assay Analyzer and Condoseo modules. Assay Analyzer captures data from diverse plate readers and processes them based on predefined business rules. Condoseo fits dose-response curves for IC50 determination in validation and assay panel screens.

The Baylor College of Medicine Human Genome Sequencing Center (HGSC) is expanding its fleet of next-generation sequencing technology from Applied Biosystems. Additional SOLiD™ Systems will be integrated into the HGSC’s existing base of genomic analysis technologies. With a total of 20 systems, HGSC scientists will use these sequencing platforms to further conduct comprehensive analyses of the genetic changes that characterize cancer, autism, and cardiovascular diseases.

The HGSC research developments coincide with the NIH’s Gene Sequencing Programs including increased support for determination of genetic changes in each of the three disease areas. With the additional genomic analysis platforms and the increased throughput available from each system, the HGSC expects to at least triple its current sequence production.

GVK Biosciences and Quantitative Solutions (QS) entered a strategic partnership to develop and market clinical trial outcome databases. The databases will be designed to capture summary-level data for the clinical safety and efficacy outcomes from publicly available data sources.

GVK BIO will distribute globally existing QS databases in five indications immediately: rheumatoid arthritis and psoriasis, chronic HCV, neuropathic pain, osteoporosis (postmenopausal), and major depression. GVK BIO and QS plan to jointly develop and market additional databases in dyslipidemia, schizophrenia, alzheimer’s, and other indications in the near future.

The aim is for the clinical trial outcome databases to assist drug development teams to conduct comparative efficacy and safety analysis, link/scale biomarkers to clinical outcomes, predict/improve trial outcome, and develop product differentiation strategies. The databases will be supported by customization and M& amp;S consulting services provided by GVK BIO and QS, respectively.

Sigma-Aldrich and Sangamo BioSciences enacted an expansion of their existing license agreement to include the exclusive rights to develop and distribute zinc finger DNA binding protein (ZFP)-modified cell lines for commercial production of protein pharmaceuticals. Additionally, Sigma-Aldrich licensed rights to certain ZFP-engineered transgenic animals for commercial applications.

The companies first formed an alliance in 2007 focused on the development of laboratory research reagents based upon Sangamo’s ZFP technology. In July they reported development of the first genetically modified rats using zinc finger nuclease (ZFN) technology. Sigma-Aldrich markets Sangamo’s ZFN technology through its CompoZr™ line of products and services.

BioFocus DPI signed a €2.8 million (about $4.12 million) drug discovery contract with Schering-Plough Research Institute (SPRI). The one-year collaboration will involve BioFocus DPI carrying out medicinal chemistry and supporting biology and ADME/PK services for multiple Schering-Plough drug discovery projects at two of SPRI’s European sites. The deal builds on a partnership that was established between the companies in May 2009 and expanded in September.

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Alpco negotiated North American distribution rights to Swedish company Athera’s CVDefine® research-use ELISA kit for the quantitative analysis of anti-PC in human blood. The cardiovascular disease biomarker test has been developed to help the early detection of lesions in the artery wall caused by inflammation. A CE-marked CVDefine kit is available in Europe. CVDefine is the first product in Athera’s diagnostic pipeline.

The company, part of the Karolinska Development portfolio, is focused on developing novel products for the treatment and prevention of cardiovascular disease.

India-based CRO SIRO Clinpharm formed a strategic alliance with Cambridge Regulatory Services, a full-service regulatory consultancy for the pharmaceutical industry. The companies claim their partnership will provide clients with a one -stop, cost-effective solution for accessing expertise in clinical trials and drug registration.

"Our alliance with CambReg will go a long way in helping small- and mid-sized companies cut through the regulatory maze in Europe,” says Chetan Tamhankar, Ph.D., SIRO Clinpharm’s COO.

Karen James, M.D., at Cambridge Regulatory Services, adds, "The partnership will provide European pharma companies with increased confidence in accessing cost-effective clinical trials solutions, hence introducing new clients to SIRO. In return, SIRO will have the benefit of offering regulatory expertise through CamReg.”

InterMune will collaborate with National Jewish Health investigators to help further the research of inherited genetic factors that may play a role in idiopathic pulmonary fibrosis (IPF).

InterMune will provide researchers at National Jewish Health with access to DNA collected from patients who participated in the company’s Phase III trials in IPF for both pirfenidone and actimmune (interferon gamma-1b). The database includes DNA from approximately 1,500 IPF patients.

imaGenes will complement its offerings with BioTrove’s OpenArray® platform, a nanoliter real-time qPCR system that allows for about 9,000 assays simultaneously. imaGenes is BioTrove’s first OpenArray service provider for real-time qPCR analysis outside the U.S. "We chose imaGenes for their extensive experience in microarray and next-generation sequencing services,” says Derek Potter, BioTrove’s European director.

The high-throughput OpenArray platform delivers superior performance to comparative qPCR systems in a much easier to use format, according to the firms. The technology enables gene-expression profiling, miRNA-profiling analyses, and biomarker studies to be completed in days instead of weeks and at a much lower price, they add.

Nacalai USA entered into a distribution agreement with LifeSensors related to the latter’s Ubiquitin Proteasome Pathway (UPP) research tools and recombinant protein-expression technologies in Japan, Singapore, South Korea, and Taiwan.

San Diego-based Nacalai USA and its parent company Nacalai Tesque, a Japanese life science research reagent and chemical company headquartered in Kyoto, will facilitate distribution in these regions.

OctoPlus signed a development and manufacturing contract with Axentis Pharma. Under terms of the deal, OctoPlus will carry out process development and clinical manufacturing of Axentis’ lead product, an inhaled liposomal formulation of tobramycin. The product, Fluidosomes™-tobramycin (also known as ARB-CF0223), is in development for the treatment of respiratory infections in cystic fibrosis patients.

Axentis started a Phase II trial with Fluidosomes™-tobramycin in September 2008. In April 2009 the product received orphan drug designation in the U.S. for the treatment of pulmonary infections caused by Pseudomonas aeruginosa. In July FDA granted the product a second orphan drug designation or the treatment of pulmonary infections caused by Burkholderia cepacia pathogens.

Evotec entered into a research agreement with Biogen Idec to find hit molecules against a target selected by Biogen Idec. The firm has the option to add more targets.

Evotec will provide Biogen Idec with access to its full range of screening technologies and library of compounds. The company will use its background in protein production and assay development to develop new assays for the initial target.

AstraZeneca signed on PsychoGenics to evaluate a number of its drug candidates for their potential to treat psychiatric disorders. The company will use its high-throughput drug discovery platforms that combine behavioral neurobiology with robotics, bioinformatics, and computer vision.

PsychoGenics will receive research payments and milestones commensurate with the stage of development. The company is also entitled to royalties on any future sales.

Novartis enlisted the help of Danish drug discovery company Nuevolution to identify small molecule leads against specific drug targets. Nuevolution will use its fragment-based drug screening platform called Chemetics®. The company says this technology combines proven wet chemistry and molecular biology to allow the rapid synthesis and selection of ligands from potentially billions of drug-like compounds in a single test tube.& nbsp; The companies will work together to carry out hit-to-lead optimization.

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Swedish company Omnio Healer selected Eden Biodesign to carry out process development and cGMP mammalian cell manufacture of its lead recombinant protein candidate, which is in development for the treatment of chronic eardrum wounds. The candidate is currently in late preclinical development and is expected to enter the clinic during late 2010.

One of Karolinska Development’s portfolio companies, Omnio Healer was established in 2006 to exploit the proinflammatory properties of the anticoagulation system for applications in wound healing and anti-infectives.

The mass spectrometry resource laboratory at the Boston University School of Medicine (BUSM) ordered a solariX™ FTMS (fourier transform mass spectrometry) from Bruker Daltonics. The instrument has a 12 Tesla magnet for bottom-up and top-down proteomics and glycomics applications with ETD and ECD capabilities.

Researchers at BUSM hope the tool will enhance their capabilities for the discovery of novel post-translational modifications including glycosylation as well as analysis of novel carbohydrate structures. BUSM already uses the Bruker amaZon™ ion-trap mass spectrometer for detailed and high-throughput analyses of glycan structures.

CSC and EMC agreed to offer advanced compliance solutions to the life sciences industry. As part of the deal, EMC will now offer CSC’s FirstDoc as a preferred regulatory compliance application.

FirstDoc is based on the EMC® Documentum® enterprise content management platform. It helps companies meet 21 CFR Part 11 to ensure that electronic records and signatures are equivalent to those based on traditional paper-based methods.

Alturas Analytics will provide Kineta with bioanalytical method development services and investments to advance the latter’s lead preclinical autoimmune program. The aim is to conduct these IND-enabling studies and begin Phase I testing by mid-2010.& nbsp;

Earlier this month, Kineta announced the acquisition of a portfolio of novel compounds from Airmid. These include Kv1.3 potassium-channel blockers derived from the venom of the Caribbean sea anemone. The compounds are designed to suppress activation of effector memory T cells. They have been shown to significantly reverse disease in animal models of multiple sclerosis and rheumatoid arthritis, according to Kineta. Additionally, the firm notes, they have potential against other autoimmune diseases including type I diabetes mellitus and orphan diseases such as Wegener's granulomatosis and muscular inflammatory diseases.& nbsp;& nbsp;

Roche Applied Science will supply Eli Lilly and SeqWright with technologies to identify genetic variants associated with various psychiatric diseases. SeqWright will utilize NimbleGen sequence capture technology to selectively enrich approximately 40 megabases of the human genome. This will then be sequenced using 454 Life Sciences’ Genome Sequencer FLX System.

"Just a year ago, it would have been impossible to imagine how we could selectively sequence such a large portion of the human genome in such a fast and cost-effective manner,” remarks Brian Edmonds, Ph.D., research advisor, global external research and development, Eli Lilly.& nbsp; "Our goal at Lilly is to improve the outcomes of individual patients; increasing the speed at which we begin to understand the basis of disease is critical to improving those outcomes. We are participating in this collaboration as a way to better examine the root causes of various psychiatric diseases.”

The University of Queensland’s Institute for Molecular Bioscience (IMB) and Life Technologies will collaborate to study pancreatic and ovarian cancer in Australia.

Researchers will use Applied Biosystems’ (part of Life Technologies) SOLiD system for the genomic analysis of pancreatic and ovarian tumors. Through this collaboration, IMB will acquire nine new SOLiD systems for a total of 11 instruments. IMB is deploying SOLiD sequencing technology for its participation in the International Cancer Genome Consortium (ICGC).

The University of Lodz, Poland, will invest in Cellectricon’s Cellaxess®HT. The university plans to use the product for its research program focusing on cell biology and molecular genetics of clinically relevant genes related to cancer treatment.

Cellaxess®HT is a fully automated workstation for high-throughput transfection. The system enables reagent-free delivery of siRNA and cDNA to a range of primary cells and cell lines.

The Genomic Medicine Institute at Seoul National University College of Medicine& nbsp;purchased seven additional Genome AnalyzerIIx sequencing systems from Illumina. This expands the capacity of its recently established Asian Genome Center to 10 Illumina sequencing systems.

The Genome Analyzer supports profiling and discovery of novel transcripts, creates a high-resolution genome-wide map of DNA-protein binding sites, and sequences entire human genomes.

Forma Therapeutics agreed to help advance The Leukemia & amp; Lymphoma Society (LLS) projects entering late preclinical development. The partnership will kick off with the selection of 10 small molecule candidates, discovered by LLS-funded academic researchers.

Forma will use its computational solvent mapping technology for structure-based drug design. The company will also leverage its computer modeling, screening, and medicinal chemistry competence to optimize and prioritize molecules that LLS and its partners may take to the clinic.

Merck KGaA licensed access to BioWa's Potelligent® Technology for the research, development, and commercialization of its antibody therapies. Under this nonexclusive agreement, BioWa received up-front fees and may earn development milestone payments and royalties.

Potelligent is designed to improve potency and efficacy of antibody therapeutics by enhancing antibody-dependent cellular cytotoxicity. It involves the reduction of the amount of fucose in the carbohydrate structure of an antibody using a proprietary fucosyltransferase-knockout CHO cell line as a production cell.

Cubist Pharmaceuticals entered into a research agreement with Evotec. Cubist will use Evotec’s fragment-screening technology, EVOlution™, to complement discovery efforts in two of its antibacterial programs. In addition, Evotec will access the synchrotron technology of Diamond Light Source, its partner for protein crystallography, to determine the 3-D structure of fragments bound to Cubist’s targets of interest.

EVOlution is Evotec’s approach to fragment-based drug discovery. It combines biochemical, nuclear magnetic resonance, and surface plasmon resonance screening technologies for the screening of low molecular weight compounds and fragments.& nbsp;

AstraZeneca extended its license to& nbsp;Linguamatics’ I2E interactive information extraction system with a further multiyear deal. The company has been a customer of Linguamatics since 2003. I2E uses natural language processing-based text-mining technology to provide insights from literature sources in real-time. The platform supports decision making at many points in the drug discovery process including target selection, biomarker discovery, and safety/toxicology.

Kyoto University’s Center for iPS Cell Research and Application (CiRA) purchased Fluidigm’s BioMark™ System to use in researching stem cell reprogramming.

CiRA is using the microfluidic properties of BioMark’s integrated fluidic circuits to analyze selected genes in induced pluripotent stem (iPS) cells. The institute is also using the system to quantify copies of specific genes transferred into a cell to generate iPS cells.

Cangene obtained rights to use Upfront Chromatography’s technology for the production of therapeutic human antibody products from human plasma. Upfront reports that its Rhobust® 2nd Generation Expanded Bed Adsorption (EBA) platform addresses the main drawbacks haunting the classical Cohn ethanol precipitation process: poor product yields, low productivity, and usage of ethanol that can destroy biological activity of some proteins.

The Rhobust 2nd Generation EBA chromatography system accommodates unclarified and unstable raw materials and operates at high flow rates. It creates no back pressure, which is a typical shortcoming of packed-bed chromatography, the firm points out.

Lonza signed an agreement with Elusys Therapeutics for the manufacture of Anthin™, Elusys’ late -stage mAb against inhaled anthrax. Under terms of the deal, Lonza will provide process development services and manufacture the product using its GS Gene Expression System™.

Anthin is a humanized, deimmunized mAb that targets the protective antigen of B. anthracis and neutralizes the effects of anthrax toxins. The antibody is being developed for both the prevention and treatment of inhalation anthrax. Elusys has been awarded $34 million from the NIH and DOD for development of the antibody. The product has also been granted fast-track status and orphan drug designation by the FDA.& nbsp;

Knome will offer its personal genome sequencing and analysis services through SeqWright’s CLIA-certified laboratory. In the collaboration, SeqWright will process and sequence client samples using SOLiD and 454 platforms, while Knome will continue to perform all data analysis and interpretation services.

Knome currently provides two separate sequencing and analysis services for consumers: KnomeSELECT™ and KnomeCOMPLETE™. Launched last month, KnomeSELECT enables consumers to obtain the sequence of their genes as well as a customized analysis of the results. KnomeCOMPLETE is the company’s flagship complete genome sequencing service.

Lohocla Research established a licensing agreement for the use of Biosystems International’s (BSI) mAb proteomics platform. Lohocla will utilize the technology for the discovery of alcoholic liver disease biomarkers in the blood.

BSI reports that it uses a hypothesis-free process to perform mAb-based comparative and quasi-global plasma proteome profiling. This allows the detection of potential biomarker candidates with no preconceived bias, the firm states. As a result, the BSI discovery process claims to provide tools for quantitative biomarker assays in clinical trials, which is something the company says current proteomics-based approaches do not deliver.

ICON will manage Eli Lilly’s clinical trial site setup and monitoring in Europe. This arrangement follows Lilly’s selection of ICON to manage its clinical data management business outside the U.S., which was announced in November 2008.

Max Planck Institute for Molecular Genetics awarded Geneart a contract to produce genes and gene variants for the project "Mutanom - Systems Biology of Genetic Diseases.” Genes will be developed over the next two years, and the expected order volume will be approximately €300,000, or slightly over $426,000.

The Mutanom project’s goal is to research the effects of mutations in the genome and their relevance for genetic diseases. The project is funded by the Federal Ministry of Education and Research.

The department of chemistry at the University of Cambridge will deploy IDBS’ E-WorkBook and suite of chemistry technologies in its research activities. It will also be able to use the system in its ongoing collaborations.

The two organizations also have begun a collaborative R& amp;D initiative that may help bring new cheminformatics technologies to the market through IDBS products.

Abbott has extended an agreement to market BioGenex’ Xmatrx® platform for the automation of& nbsp;its FISH product line. Under the terms of the agreement, BioGenex will receive a multiyear minimum volume commitment from Abbott.

The original technology co-development and distribution agreement and this extension give Abbott customers will have the option to run IHC and FISH on the Xmatrx, and BioGenex customers to run FISH on their system. The Xmatrx will be co-branded and marketed, and both parties to collaborate in aiding adoption of FISH, IHC, and ISH as primary tools in molecular diagnostics and personalized medicine.

The Xmatrx platform allows for the walk-away automation of the entire FISH assay workflow, from specimen pre-treatment to final cover-slipping, according to BioGenex. It is designed for optimal results with Abbott Molecular AutoFISH™ reagents and FISH technology.

Rubicon Genomics’ preanalytical platform products will incorporate ZyGEM’s advanced enzymatic nucleic acid extraction technology. The companies’ agreement will initially focus on diagnostic single-cell whole-genome amplification kits but in the future may be expanded to include products for broader research and diagnostic applications.

Rubicon will soon launch its PicoPlex™ kits that integrate ZyGEM’s DNA extraction technology, which uses a thermophilic enzyme to extract DNA from samples using a single closed-tube system. The product targets the preimplantation genetic diagnostic and cancer diagnostic markets, which require rapid, reproducible amplification to profile patient genotypes, karyotypes, and mutations. PicoPlex will enable reference labs to begin qPCR, microarray, or sequencing analysis less than three hours after collecting patient cells, according to Rubicon.

Carl Zeiss will integrate its MIRAX Virtual Slide Scanner into Bruker Daltonics’ MALDI Molecular Imager™. In the past, a major bottleneck in pathology research has been the interpretation of MALDI imaging results in a histological context. Combining the two technologies, the companies report, allows the direct overlay of the full microscopic image with the entire molecular and spectral information in one visualization software tool, enabling untargeted molecular histology.

The MALDI Molecular Imager allows histology researchers to measure spatially resolved peptide, protein, and lipid profiles in tissue sections. Zeiss Mirax Scanner is scalable online and has a high-lateral resolution that can zoom in to any tissue sections investigated by MALDI.

Zymeworks entered into a research agreement with XOMA to optimize an antibody. The partnership will leverage Zymeworks’ ZymeCAD™ suite of predictive protein engineering tools and XOMA’s Targeted Affinity Enhancement™ technology.

ZymeCAD molecular simulation platform creates a modeling environment that generates novel physical and chemical insights into protein systems, according to Zymeworks.

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Odyssey Thera will analyze drug candidates from a number of preclinical programs for Mitsubishi Tanabe Pharma. Odyssey Thera will apply its patented protein-fragment complementation assay, high-context screening infrastructure, institutional knowledge, and data analysis strategies in the collaboration to yield insights related to drug selectivity, safety, and mechanisms of action.

Odyssey also reports the issuance of a Japanese patent entitled, "Protein fragment complementation assays for the detection of biological or drug interactions.”

PerkinElmer and BioLegend entered an agreement that allows BioLegend to offer immunoassay development and bioanalytical testing based on PerkinElmer’s AlphaLISA® assay technology. Homogenous bead-based AlphaLISA comprises highly sensitive and quantitative assays with broader dynamic ranges than standard ELISAs, according to PerkinElmer.

Furthermore, the advantages of AlphaLISA technology allow for easy integration into automated high-throughput testing systems, the firm adds. "The future of high-throughput assays lies in an increased need for automation,” notes Brad Kraft, president of BioLegend.

"Many current immunological assay platforms have major drawbacks when it comes to meeting requirements for automation in the lab. We feel this collaboration with PerkinElmer is therefore a timely and highly promising advance that gives researchers greater understanding of basic disease biology and pathobiology, particularly when applied to biomarker assays.”

GE Healthcare agreed to commercialize Cytori Therapeutics’ StemSource® technology in the North American stem cell banking and research markets. The partnership will extend for 18 months starting in the second quarter of 2009.

StemSource includes automated equipment to process stem and regenerative cells found in adipose tissue, cryopreserve them, or use them directly for research purposes.

In January 2009, Cytori and GE Healthcare formed a separate agreement to commercialize Cytori’s products in 10 European countries. This includes selling the Celution® 800/CRS System in the European cosmetic and reconstructive surgery market as well as selling

StemSource products in the European cell banking and research markets.

Vernalis and Servier signed a three-year collaboration to harness Vernalis’ fragment- and structure-based drug discovery platform for the identification of drug candidates against a new cancer target.

The deal is in addition to the companies’ existing collaboration, signed in May 2007, focused on two oncology targets involved in protein-protein interactions. In October 2008, Vernalis received a €500,000 milestone from Servier for solving the novel crystal structure of one of the targets.

Duke University Medical Center scientists inked a research collaboration to use WaferGen Biosystems’ SmartChip™ Real-Time PCR System in cancer-related genotyping.& nbsp; WaferGen believes the SmartChip Real-Time PCR System will be the first platform to combine the high-throughput capability and cost efficiencies of existing microarrays with the sensitivity and accuracy of real-time PCR.& nbsp;

Under terms of the collaboration, the laboratory of John A. Olson Jr., M.D., Ph.D., and Jeffrey R. Marks, Ph.D., at the Institute for Genome Sciences and Policy will conduct genotyping projects using the technology to validate SNPs related to breast cancer.& nbsp; Additionally, researchers will aim to examine the impact the validated SNPs have on patients’ disease prognosis and response to treatment.

Personal Genome Project (PGP) deployed Isilon Systems’ scale-out NAS as its central repository for genetic and trait data of up to 100,000 volunteers. The aim is to provide immediate, concurrent data access to accelerate research in personalized medicine while reducing storage management overhead and IT complexity.

By using Isilon IQ with its OneFS® operating system software, the PGP can unify its collection of individual genome samples into a single, easy-to-use, efficient storage infrastructure that reportedly can scale performance and capacity in less than 60 seconds. This database is immediately accessible across workstations, locations, and protocols.

BioFocus DPI will utilize Cellectricon's Dynaflow®HT, a fully automated patch clamp (APC) system, to increase its electrophysiology-based screening capacity, particularly for fast ligand-gated ion channels. The DynaflowHT microfluidic ion channel screening platform reportedly enables high-throughput screening of voltage-gated and ligand-gated ion channels. It has a throughput exceeding all existing APC systems at a very competitive running cost, according to Cellectricon. Rapid compound exchange enables highly complex perfusion protocols, gives superior data quality, and reduces compound usage, the firm adds.

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The Harvard University research community has obtained access to Denator’s Stabilizor™ system for stabilizing biological samples. The agreement was signed with Harvard Catalyst - Laboratory for Innovative Translational Technologies (HC-LITT)

"Denator’s rapid heat inactivation technology, Stabilizor, which stabilizes tissues instantly and ensures that this stability is maintained during downstream analyses, nicely complements the set of downstream technologies currently used at HC-LITT and local proteomic core facilities,” says HC-LITT director, Winston Patrick Kuo.

"We are very pleased to include the instrument in our suite of enabling leading-edge genomic and proteomic technologies. This new approach is expected to have a large impact on sample preparation and handling in the future.”

Linguamatics has integrated its I2E semantic knowledge-discovery platform with ChemAxon’s substructure and structure similarity search capabilities. This combination addresses the problem of identifying key facts and relationships from text documents for structurally similar chemical compounds, according to the firms.

The provision of chemical structure similarity and substructure-enabled text mining enhances I2E’s existing ontology-based compound searching. Users can query for chemical compounds in text documents, examine relevant facts and relationships, and visualize the hits.

SmartGene entered a marketing and distribution collaboration with Virco Lab to help U.S. laboratories manage, analyze, and derive maximum benefit from their HIV sequences.

Virco Lab will market and distribute SmartGene’s web-based service module, SmartGene® HIV. The program is an integrated, data-management solution encompassing interpretation algorithms, multiple genetic targets, and resistance reporting.

The partnership allows laboratories using both SmartGene and Virco services to send an order for interpretation of sequence data by Virco directly out of the SmartGene HIV module and then store the resulting virco®TYPE HIV-1 resistance reports within the SmartGene database.

The Thermo Scientific Antaris family of FT-NIR analyzers is being coupled with Siemens' SIPAT software platform for advanced process understanding and continuous control and improvement in drug development and manufacture. The companies point out that this combination allows for the use of process analysis not just in the lab but also in production.

Antaris FT-NIR analyzers are built to include internal calibration standards, which allow instrument qualification without having to stop the process or remove the probe from the culture media. With features like a flex-pivot interferometer and pinned-in-place optics inherent in the analyzers, each scan is the same as the last one providing accurate, precise, and reliable measurements, according to Thermo Fisher Scientific.

The SIPAT software supports PAT implementation, acquiring data from multiple analyzers and other data sources. It also supports process control whereby it can either focus on specific units or cover total batch quality to enable real-time product release.

University of Barcelona purchased a Genome Sequencer FLX System from 454 Life Sciences. It will be installed at the genomics unit of the scientific and technical services. This segment currently supports over 110 research groups.

The University of Barcelona expects to use the sequencer for various projects like the identification of strategies for improving aquaculture production by biotech tools and studies about the vulnerability of benthonic populations using molecular tools. Other research projects will include postgenomic analyses of the homeostasis and regeneration of complex multicellular organisms as well as research focused on multigenic approaches to identify the molecular mechanisms that control the embryogenic processes of bilateral organisms.

Furthermore, the Genome Sequencer FLX System will be used to characterize DNA alterations related to the pathogenic mechanisms involved in diseases such as hepatic and digestive diseases, lymphoid neoplasia, and osteoporosis. The main objective of such projects is to contribute to the future development of useful diagnostic tools with potential applications in clinical practice.

Sigma-Aldrich will supply services to and exclusively provide custom oligonucleotides to Gene Oracle. The companies co-market GeneIOS gene synthesis system and services.

Sigma-Aldrich's oligonucleotides thus becomes a key component of the Gene Oracle gene-synthesis platform. After customers design an optimized gene sequence using the GeneIOS software, Sigma-Aldrich reports that it will generate high-quality oligonucleotides that can be assembled to create synthetic genes within a single day.

Mount Sinai School of Medicine (MSSM) is employing DiscoveryBioMed (DBM) in fee-for-service contracts covering basic drug discovery work. The agreement calls for human cell optimization, assay optimization, and drug discovery bioassays.

Experiments have reportedly commenced on assay optimization, and pilot drug screening will begin shortly. The firm is using its expertise in the development and engineering of human cell cultures and lines from normal or diseased tissue.

VWR International Europe obtained rights to distribute ZyGEM's DNA extraction kits in Europe. VWR has been distributing ZyGEM's DNA extraction kits in North and South America since November 2008. Under the terms of the new nonexclusive license, VWR will be able to supply the DNA extraction products to the life science research, forensic, agriculture, and animal health markets throughout Europe.

ZyGEM's technology uses a thermophilic enzyme to extract DNA from samples using a single closed-tube system. This approach reportedly reduces the time and cost of DNA extractions while simplifying laboratory workflow, minimizing error, reducing the risk of contamination, ensuring sample integrity, and facilitating extractions from trace samples.

The Center for Translational Pathology at the University of Michigan installed a Genomatix Mining Station (GMS) and a Genomatix Genome Analyzer (GGA) at its labs in Ann Arbor, MI. The two technologies work in conjunction to provide an analysis of next-generation sequencing data.

GMS is based on a genomic pattern recognition paradigm, or GenomeThesaurus, which allows for input of raw sequence reads plus optional quality files from any sequencing hardware. GGA delivers downstream software tools and databases for the analysis of GMS data.

GMS reportedly provides ultrafast mapping of sequences of any length (starting from 8 bp) with no practical limits on the number of point mutations and/or insertions and deletions that can be taken into account during the mapping process. Depending on the nature of the experiment, the GMS can provide SNP detection and genotyping, copy number analysis, and small RNA analysis.

Daiichi Sankyo has inked a commercial license agreement for the use of the Red/ET recombination technology from Gene Bridges. The Red/ET recombination technology is a method for generating targeting vectors or modifying E. coli chromosomes.& nbsp;According to Gene Bridges, recombineering with Red/ET allows cloning, subcloning, and modification of DNA at any chosen position. It permits precise engineering of DNA molecules of any size, including large ones such as BACs or the E.coli chromosome.

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Researchers at Baylor College of Medicine’s Medical Genetics Laboratories will use Illumina’s Infinium® High-Density DNA Analysis products to study genomic imprinting and its role in developmental diseases such as Prader-Willi syndrome, Angelman syndrome, and other disorders caused by uniparental disomy.

With the Infinium DNA Analysis products, scientists at Baylor will have access to high-resolution scans of entire genomes for chromosomal abnormalities found in genes and disease pathways linked to common developmental diseases and syndromes, according to the company. These products are reported to offer quick and cost-effective screening for single-nucleotide polymorphisms associated with diseases, structural variation, and copy-neutral loss of heterozygosity events such as uniparental disomy.

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Bio-Rad Laboratories and Bruker are combining technologies for high-throughput protein profiling and identification. The exclusive agreement includes the development and marketing of new products based on Bio-Rad’s surface-enhanced laser desorption/ionization (SELDI) technology in combination with Bruker’s matrix-assisted laser desorption/ionization time-of-flight (MALDI-TOF/TOF) mass spectrometers.

The products will provide solutions for biomarker discovery, in particular, the detection and high-confidence identification of intact peptides and proteins under 30 kilodaltons. These are challenging for currently available technologies to identify, according to the companies.

Stemgent signed a co-exclusive license to market CellDesign’s AdipoDesign Starter Kit and AdipoDesign MaxiKit. The kits enable researchers to grow and study adipocytes from adipogenic progenitor cells.

Under the terms of the agreement, the kits will be sold under both companies’ names. The kits will be shipped directly from Stemgent, and representatives from Stemgent and CellDesign will be available for sales and technical support.

The AdipoDesign Starter Kit and AdipoDesign Maxi Kit comprise committed human adipogenic progenitor cells as well as recovery, maintenance, and differentiation media. They allow the researcher to produce functional human adipocytes in two weeks, according to CellDesign.

GeneGo plans to use Entelos' DrugMatrix gene expression data to further its Functional Descriptor predictive toxicology models. "Access to a comprehensive, pharmacologically diverse, and fully annotated compendium of gene expression data is critical to developing high-performance predictive models,” points out Richard Brennan, director of toxicology at GeneGo.

"DrugMatrix is the largest toxicogenomic database available and will allow us to apply the lessons we have learned from our participation in the Microarray Quality Control Consortium to expand our collection of biological pathway-based classifiers with toxicity models for a wide variety of adverse drug effects in key target tissues.”

Sangmyung University of the Republic of Korea inked an agreement to use PerkinElmer’s assays in GPCR research. The deal is part of the country’s efforts to establish an academic GPCR screening facility together with the Korea Chemical Bank, a national repository library of over 100,000 small molecule compounds.

PerkinElmer reports that its AequoScreen aequorin assays is based on sensitive and flexible cell-based technology with advantages over conventional fluorescence-based dyes, including fewer false positives, simpler protocol, and increased assay windows.

Symyx Technologies inked a collaboration with Thermo Fisher Scientific to deliver enhanced services related to scientists’ laboratory information management system (LIMS) needs. The firms will integrate applications, and Thermo Fisher will market and sell Symyx Notebook and Symyx Isentris(R) decision support software with Thermo Scientific LIMS across the world.

Initially, the companies will focus on coupling Thermo Scientific Watson LIMS and Symyx Notebook systems. Once this is achieved, they will move on to combining Symyx Notebook with other Thermo Scientific LIMS.

Pall obtained an exclusive license for SPF Innovations’ SPF™ Technology for biopharmaceutical applications. Under the agreement, Pall will be able to manufacture, market, and sell this platform.

Single Pass TFF (SPTFF) is a new form of tangential-flow filtration (TFF) delivering high-conversion separations without a recirculation loop, providing the performance of TFF with the simplicity of direct-flow filtration. SPTFF delivers multiple economic benefits, important operational benefits, and new capabilities such as increased yield, lower hold-up volume, very high-concentration factors, and low exposure time, according to Pall.& nbsp;& nbsp;

Applied Biosystems and the Translational Genomics Research Institute (TGen) will ally to research complex diseases using the firm’s SOLiD™ 3 System, a next-generation genomic analysis platform. The alliance will also involve the co-development of a bioinformatics analysis and visualization pipeline for the SOLiD platform.

Under this alliance, five SOLiD 3 Systems will be used to build a sequencing pipeline in connection with patient-centric, medically directed resequencing on a cross section of patient samples.

Six different projects focused on comprehensive characterization of genetic and molecular changes occurring within clinical cohorts for diseases like cancer, neurological disorders, and autoimmune diseases will be studied.

Complete Genomics will conduct complete human genome sequencing pilot studies of glioblastoma and melanoma for the Broad Institute. The company will sequence five genomes from samples provided by the institute.

The first genome sequenced will be a test case that has already been studied extensively by the scientific community. The other four genomes are tumor and matched-pair normals; one pair will be used to study glioblastoma and the other melanoma.

Pfizer will evaluate the application of Xencor’s Xtend™ antibody half-life prolongation technology and XmAb® ADCC enhancing technology in several of its discovery projects. In addition, Pfizer has taken a commercial license to Xencor’s technology for one program.

Xencor will receive an up-front payment and is eligible to considerations based on the successful commercialization of products that incorporate the Xencor technology.

Tocris Bioscience obtained exclusive rights from AstraZeneca to supply two anticancer agents, anastrozole and bicalutamide, as preclinical research compounds.& nbsp; Anastrozole is an aromatase inhibitor, and bicalutamide is an androgen inhibitor.

"By making the fully licensed products available through our catalogue, we hope to promote new and exciting research in the fundamental processes that drive cancer development,” says Duncan Crawford, Tocris’ CSO.

The NMD-Chip Consortium selected Roche NimbleGen microarrays for use in its activities related to neuromuscular disorders (NMDs). The group is working to develop a faster, more cost-effective diagnostic tool.

Currently, it takes between two weeks to a year, according to the consortium, and the aim is to bring the time down to 72 hours to one week. The NMD-Chip Consortium comprises 13 European entities from eight countries.

The consortium will use custom-designed NimbleGen Human CGH 12x135 K microarrays to locate gene- and exon-level rearrangements, deletions, or insertions associated with Duchenne/Becker muscular dystrophies, limb girdle muscular dystrophies, congenital muscular dystrophies, and hereditary motor-sensory neuropathies like Charcot-Marie-Tooth neuropathies. These high-throughput CGH will allow 12 research samples to be processed at the same time on a single array.

In addition, the consortium will use customized NimbleGen Human Sequence Capture 385 K arrays to capture DNA fragments of all known genes implied in a given group of NMDs. This technology when coupled with high-throughput sequencing will provide quick evaluation of the gene variation underlying the NMDs being researched.

Syngenta expanded its biomarker discovery partnership with Genedata.& nbsp;It added the Genedata Expressionist Refiner MS module for LC/MS and GC/MS metabolomic raw data processing and analysis to its existing Genedata Expressionist system.

Refiner MS expands Expressionist to process and analyze metabolomic raw MS data separately and in conjunction with microarray data, improving efficiency and enhancing the biomarker discovery process.

Syngenta has been using the Genedata Expressionist Refiner Array and Analyst modules to process and analyze microarray data since 2005. With the rapid expansion of metabolomics research and the associated data volumes generated, Syngenta will now use Refiner MS to integrate MS data in its biomarker discovery projects.

CSL inked an agreement to use Xencor’s XmAb® technology platform to enhance the ADCC effector function of its therapeutic antibodies. In addition to an upfront payment, CSL will pay Xencor development milestone payments and product royalties for each product commercialized that incorporates the Xencor technology.

During the research phase of the collaboration, Xencor will provide CSL the ability to use this technology across its antibody candidate pipeline. Xencor has granted CSL several commercial licenses to move product candidates that incorporate XmAb technology into development and ultimately commercialization.

GTC Biotherapeutics entered into a license agreement with JCOM in the Republic of Korea to provide a license for the transgenic development of recombinant human insulin products in Asia. JCOM will pay a license fee and compensate GTC for successful development of the transgenic production system. JCOM will also pay GTC a royalty on any commercial sales of the products.

Under the agreement, GTC will establish the appropriate cell lines and demonstrate production over the next 12 months. JCOM has the option for exclusive marketing rights in Asia.

Cordex Pharma has employed Cato BioVentures to perform regulatory services and oversight of clinical testing of its products.

Under the agreement, a portion of Cato's compensation for rendered services will be in the form of Cordex equity.Initially, the collaboration will focus on Cordex' Phase III trial with ATPace for the treatment of paroxysmal supraventricular tachycardia (PSVT). ATPace is a stable formulation of adenosine 5'-triphosphate administered by intravenous injection for the acute termination of PSVT.

Cystic Fibrosis Foundation Therapeutics (CFFT) chose Medidata Solutions’ Rave® to manage clinical data. The platform, which integrates electronic data capture (EDC) with clinical data management (CDM) and reporting, will be utilized from April in clinical trials as well as epidemiological studies.

The agreement was inked between the company and CFFT Development Network (CFFT TDN) Coordinating Center. Until recently, the Center outsourced its CDM systems but due to the expansion of the network and the growing number of clinical protocols, it decided to bring more of its CDM operations in-house to increase efficiency and lower costs. Over 10 months, the data management team evaluated five EDC and CDM solutions and selected Medidata Rave.

The Coordinating Center’s decision was reportedly influenced by Medidata’s ability to adapt to a range of clinical requirements and the company’s focus on building strong relationships with its customers.

Bioceros joined DSM Biologics and Crucell’s vendor network. Bioceros is now a preapproved cell-line generation partner for licensees of the PER.C6® cell line located in the EU. "The growing number of PER.C6 licensees requires that we expand the possibilities for our licensees to obtain services like cell-line generation,” notes Karen King, president of DSM.

The PER.C6 technology platform has been developed for the large-scale manufacture of biopharmaceutical products such as recombinant proteins including mAbs. By employing the PER.C6 human cell line and DSM's XD™ technology, a record yield of over 27 grams per liter in the production of IgG antibodies has been achieved, according to the firms.

Mirna Therapeutics and the University of California, San Francisco (UCSF) will work together to evaluate the capacity of specific miRNAs to reduce or eliminate tumors in mouse models of cancer.

The collaboration will include miRNAs that were discovered at both Mirna and UCSF as well as small RNAs that will be identified in research using mouse and cell models from UCSF.

Roche Diagnostics will use Response Genetics’ PCR analysis platform to assess HER2 gene expression. The accurate measurement of HER2 gene expression can assist with treatment decisions for cancer patients.

It has been shown that women with HER2-positive gene expression have a three times higher risk of recurrence, even if the cancer is caught in the early stages. HER2 gene amplification has been shown to correlate with improved clinical outcome in response to certain cancer drugs and its measurement by RT PCR was recently shown to correlate with analyses by fluorescence in situ hybridization and immunohistochemistry.

Wellcome Trust& nbsp;is deploying GenoLogics’& nbsp;lab- and data-management solution for genomics, including integrations to next-generation sequencing platforms.

According to Ioannis Ragoussis, head of genomics at the Wellcome Trust Centre for Human Genetics, "we selected Geneus for our centralized lab- and data-management platform because of its flexibility to automate data capture from a wide range of genomics instruments and applications, while allowing us to more efficiently track samples and QC results across numerous projects.” Dr. Ragoussis went on to say, "a primary consideration in our selection of Geneus was the platform’s capability to fully integrate to our next generation sequencing instruments from Illumina and Roche, and automatically pipeline data for downstream analysis.”

Bristol-Myers Squibb (BMS) signed on XDx to identify biomarkers related to systemic lupus erythematosus (SLE). These biomarkers will be used for diagnostic purposes associated with the clinical development of BMS’ Orencia®.

This compound is approved for the treatment of rheumatoid arthritis and is in various stages of development in cancer.

BMS will make an upfront payment to XDx in addition to milestone payments with the achievement of specific research and development objectives. XDx will receive commercial rights to certain diagnostic applications resulting from the collaboration.

Almac Diagnostics added NuGEN Technologies’& nbsp; NuGEN Ovation® Systems to its gene expression profiling services. In addition, Almac will also leverage the platform to develop prognostic and companion diagnostic tests.

Almac will initially offer Ovation Systems for its RNA amplification and target preparation services for FFPE and whole blood samples using the following established workflows: WT-Ovation™ FFPE Solution, a complete target preparation solution that enables global gene expression analysis of vast archives of degraded RNA derived from FFPE samples with as little as 50 ng of total RNA and Ovation® Whole Blood Solution, a target preparation solution that enables global gene expression analysis from 20 ng of whole blood RNA without the need for globin reduction procedures.

Formalin-fixed, paraffin-embedded (FFPE) tissue samples is the foundation of Almac’s approach to the development of diagnostic tests. The Single Primer Isothermal Amplification (SPIA®) technology from NuGEN coupled with Almac Cancer DSATM microarray platform offers a unique solution to working with this degraded material, according to Paul Harkin, Ph.D., president and managing director of Almac.

The University of Texas Southwestern Medical Center will use WaferGen Biosystems’ SmartChip™ Real-Time PCR System in wound-healing biomarker research.

The scientists say that they will identify and validate gene expression biomarkers related to wound healing. Additionally, they will examine the impact these markers have on patients’ response to treatment.

SmartChip is a whole genome, high-throughput gene expression real-time PCR platform.

Sigma Aldrich purchased Seppro® affinity depletion technology and a library of 700 avian-derived antibodies from GenWay Biotech. This acquisition covers current inventory, production technology, and all future rights to produce and distribute the product lines.

The Seppro IgY depletion platform is an antibody-based technology for processing plasma, serum, and plant samples. It enables researchers to detect and analyze commonly obscured biomarkers in samples by removing abundant proteins. Seppro depletion products are built using chicken-derived IgY antibodies, providing higher selectivity and lower cross-reactivity than other comparable products, according to the companies.

The library of 700 polyclonal IgY antibodies represents Sigma-Aldrich’s first IgY antibody offering. These antibodies are derived from chicken embryos and prepared using recombinant antigens.

VistaGen Therapeutics inked a license for Wisconsin Alumni Research Foundation’s human embryonic stem cell patents for the development and commercialization of stem cell-based research tools.

The licensed patents will accelerate VistaGen's commercial programs focused on providing customized, next-generation stem cell-based predictive toxicology and drug discovery screening assays.

The Beijing Institute of Genomics (BIG) of the Chinese Academy of Sciences& nbsp;acquired eight additional SOLiD™ Systems from Life Technologies, which was recently formed through the merger of Applied Biosystems and Invitrogen.

BIG’s expansion deal gives the institute a total of nine SOLiD Systems. It plans to explore the mutation profiling of cancer genes, investigate genetic variation in model organisms, conduct metagenomic analysis of microbes, and discover and characterize novel miRNAs. The SOLiD System is a next-generation genomic analysis platform for DNA sequencing and RNA analysis applications.

AstraZeneca& nbsp;awarded Infosys& nbsp;a five-year global sourcing deal. Infosys will deliver end-to-end application maintenance services to AstraZeneca’s global operations in areas such as manufacturing, supply chain, finance, and human resources.

AstraZeneca expects to transform its operations through multiple phases-the first in the U.K. and the Nordics and subsequently the U.S., the rest of Europe, Latin America, and Asia. In addition, AstraZeneca employees in Sweden and the U.K. will be rebadged to Infosys.

Roche and Axiogenesis entered into an agreement for the development and distribution for Axiogenesis’ Cor.At® 100% pure cardiomyocytes as a part of the xCELLigence cell-analysis system. Cell systems based on the Cor.At technology customized for the xCELLigence platform will be marketed.

The xCELLigence System is designed for a applications spanning from short-term kinetic analysis like measuring effects on G-protein coupled receptors to assays for cell proliferation and cytoxicity. The Cor.At cells are not only quality-controlled, storable, and available under GMP-conditions but resemble a physiologically normal phenotype of either neonate or adult heart. Coupling the Cor.At cells and the xCELLigence system enables research studies to focus on long-term life behavior of cardiac cells in vitro, according to the companies.

BioWa& nbsp;licensed its Potelligent technology to GlaxoSmithKline& nbsp;for use in developing and commercializing select GSK antibodies with enhancement of antibody-dependent cellular cytotoxicity (ADCC).

BioWa will provide GSK with non- exclusive commercial rights to use the technology for multiple antibodies. In return, BioWa will receive technology access fees, and may receive milestone payments and royalties from resulting products which are developed by GSK.

According to BioWa, Potelligent improves potency and efficacy of antibody therapeutics, by enhancing ADCC, one of the major mechanisms of action for antibody therapeutics.

Aeras Global TB Vaccine Foundation& nbsp;has chosen Cmed’s& nbsp;Timaeus as its global intelligent electronic data acquisition and management system. Aeras is a nonprofit product development partnership developing and testing new vaccines against tuberculosis.& nbsp;

According to Cmed, Timaeus is a single system that both captures and manages paper and electronic data. Its architecture allows wireless communication by all types of low and high bandwidth mobile phone technologies. The ability to communicate over an extremely low bandwidth means that Timaeus can operate in areas of interest to Aeras where internet access is not reliable.

Pluristem Therapeutics& nbsp;has contracted KKS for a critical limb ischemia (CLI) multicenter clinical trial utilizing its placental-derived adherent stromal cell product, PLX-PAD.

KKS will oversee the entire operation and data management of Pluristem's dose escalation, Phase I trial, assessing the safety of PLX-PAD in patients with CLI, at two separate sites in Germany. & nbsp;KKS Charité& nbsp;(Koordinierungszentrum für Klinische Studien der Charité) is the CRO of the Charité (Charité–Universitätsmedizin Berlin) and conducts all clinical trials for this institution.

Poniard Pharmaceuticals& nbsp;contracted with Baxter Oncology& nbsp;for the commercial manufacture and supply of injectable picoplatin drug product. Poniard is developing picoplatin, its lead product candidate, as a potential new platform product for the treatment of solid tumors. The company is evaluating picoplatin in four clinical trials, including an ongoing pivotal Phase III trial in small-cell lung cancer, Phase II trials in colorectal and prostate cancers, and a Phase I trial of an oral formulation.

Earlier this year, Poniard entered into an agreement with W. C. Heraeus to manufacture picoplatin active pharmaceutical ingredient (API) and be ready to ship commercial quantities of picoplatin by 2009. Heraeus is the current manufacturer of picoplatin API for the company's four ongoing clinical trials.

Thermo Fisher Scientific& nbsp;is helping Pronota& nbsp;discover and validate disease biomarkers with its new HeavyPeptide FasTrack™ service.& nbsp; FasTrack speeds up the process of peptide selection and purification by providing a selection of crude heavy peptides to immediately begin developing protein assays, according to Thermo Fisher Scientific. The crude peptides are used in mass spec setup and initial analysis to identify the best proteotypic peptides.

Once a customer has identified its candidates, Thermo Fisher uses retained crude stock to produce the final purified heavy peptides as Thermo Scientific HeavyPeptide AQUA kits.

"Our new FasTrack service will improve our customers’ quantitative workflows, providing robust data faster while reducing costs,” said Joel Louette, commercial director for the Thermo Fisher Scientific biopolymers business. "By accelerating biomarker validation, we are helping our customers speed the development of new medicines and diagnostics for patients who need them.”

Stem Cell Sciences (SCS)& nbsp;signed a Master Service Agreement of up to five years with Pfizer Limited, the U.K. operating unit of Pfizer.

Under the terms of the agreement, SCS will provide research services, cell lines, media, and reagents to support R& amp;D efforts at Pfizer’s new Regenerative Medicine Unit, which was launched last week.

Beckman Coulter signed new sole source agreements with Adventist Health to provide a broad range of core laboratory systems and supplies valued at about $36 million over six years. An expanding group of more than 38 acute-care affiliate organizations will also be able to purchase systems under the contract.

Adventist Health hospital laboratories will continue to purchase hematology products from Beckman Coulter as well as add the company's complete line of automated chemistry and immunoassay analyzers and reagents to its facilities.

Anticipating European approval for its breast cancer and Alzheimer’s diagnostics, DiaGenic inked a deal with DNAVision. Under the service provider agreement, DNAVision will serve as the diagnostic testing arm for DiaGenic in Europe for its blood-based gene-expression tests.

"The key advantages of our tests are the ease of sample collection and the ability to detect the earliest signs of disease,” says DiaGenic CEO Erik Christensen, M.D., Ph.D. "However, quality control is equally important in generating provider and patient confidence. We therefore regard DNAVision as an ideal partner since their testing facilities for molecular diagnostics comply with the most advanced quality standards in Europe."

Affitech has acquired full rights to Pharmexa’s diabody technology. Affitech had an exclusive license to diabody IP from 2007 to carry out certain nonclinical GLP-compliant studies and sublicensing deals.

Also known as bi-specific single-chain antibodies, diabodies are recombinant antibody-like proteins. Affitech will use the technology to fuel its own pipeline as well as partnerships.

KaloBios licensed BioWa’s Potelligent® technology to enhance the antibody-dependent cellular cytotoxicity (ADCC) of certain antibodies.

Under the terms of the agreement, KaloBios has nonexclusive rights to research, develop, and commercialize therapeutic antibodies generated through Potelligent technology. In return, BioWa will receive an upfront payment and may receive development milestone fees and royalties on products.

Potelligent technology involves the reduction of the amount of fucose in the carbohydrate structure of an antibody using a fucosyltransferase-knockout CHO cell line as a production cell. Research shows that Potelligent technology enhances ADCC activity of an antibody in vitro and significantly increases potency and efficacy of the antibody in vivo, according to BioWa.

Cognizant entered a five-year agreement with AstraZeneca to provide application maintenance services for R& amp;D as well as sales and marketing.

Cognizant will adopt an outcome or effect-based model to ensure a predictable service model, reduce the overall cost of IT ownership, and deliver year-over-year efficiency improvements. It will work with AstraZeneca's global shared services organization. It

Cognizant inked a $95 million clinical data-management contract with AstraZeneca earlier this year. The companies have been engaged in business services across North America, Europe, and Asia Pacific since 2004.

Asuragen has added the& nbsp;NuGEN Ovation® Systems to its menu of gene-expression profiling services and as another component of the ENCOMPASS™ Services for FFPE portfolio. The pharmacogenomic services division of Asuragen will initially offer NuGEN RNA amplification and target-preparation services for FFPE tissue and whole blood samples on the Affymetrix GeneChip® platform.

The ENCOMPASS Services will employ the NuGEN WT-Ovation FFPE Solution with Affymetrix GeneChip microarrays to provide researchers access to significant biological information locked in precious archived samples. NuGEN reports that these RNA amplification and labeling products enable life scientists to conduct sensitive, robust, global gene-expression profiling and novel signature discovery. They are designed for use with a range of sample types including FFPE tissues, whole blood, tissue biopsies, laser-captured micro-dissected cells, sorted cells, and others.

Qualia Clinical Services will use Logos Technologies' electronic data capture (EDC) system, Alphadas®, to streamline and automate trials in its Phase I clinical facility in Omaha. The system provides time-based data entry at the bedside, collection and integration of laboratory data, images, and scans as well as bar-coded labeling to track samples from draw to dispatch.

"Automating our recently expanded Phase I facility with Alphadas will enable us to provide our pharma and biotech sponsors with top quality, real-time access to critical data while conducting state-of-the-art clinical trials,”& nbsp; points out Azhar Kalim, COO of Qualia.

The company recently added 10,000 square feet of space to the Phase I site, which opened in the fall 2006. The clinic is now 33,000 square feet with a capacity of about 160 beds. Qualia also has operations in Toronto and Kiev, Ukraine.

Genome Institute of Singapore (GIS) has purchased four Genome Analyzers from Illumina, totaling its installed base to six. The Genome Analyzers will be used in projects such as the construction of transcriptional networks linked to cancer and stem cells.

Genome analyzers will be paired with Illumina’s Pair-End-diTag sequencing technology to study genome structures and functions. PET technology is used for human genome annotation and to identify complete fusion genes that function as oncogenes.

Illumina’s mRNA-Seq is also available-a new product for full-length, cDNA sequencing that is powered by Illumina's sequencing technology and the Genome Analyzer.

CLC bio has licensed its bioinformatics suite of products to J. Craig Venter Institute (JCVI). The firm’s developer kit will reportedly enable JCVI to build targeted plug-ins for their internal use, while allowing JCVI to interact based on the same platform with worldwide collaborators.

CLC bio will implement both server structure and support for all major database formats. This ensures an efficient solution for sharing centralized bioinformatics data in a client/server architecture, where the server contains one or more databases and the clients are CLC bio's workbenches.

Moraga Biotechnology licensed its blood-derived blastomere-like stem cells (BLSCs) to Pharmacells. The goal is to progress and introduce BLSCs as a new and better way to research and use adult stem cells.

This agreement immediately advances Moraga’s technology into the U.K. and Ireland and provides a platform for further expansion in the EU. Pharmacells will use Moraga’s adult stem cell technology for banking BLSCs that have been isolated, processed, and cryopreserved.

WaferGen Biosystems signed an exclusive agreement to distribute its SmartSlide™ Micro-Incubation System products with Euroclone in Italy and Takeda Rika Kogyo in Japan.

WaferGen says that its family of SmartSlide Micro-Incubation System products that offer cell biology and stem cell researchers varying levels of control over specific environmental conditions such as nutrient flow, temperature, humidity, ga, and pH. The SmartSlide Micro-Incubation System family of products consists of four currently marketed tools: SmartSlide 50, 100, 150, and 200.

Takeda Pharmaceutical obtained the rights to Gene Bridges’ Red/ET recombination technology.

Red/ET is a method for DNA engineering that allows cloning, subcloning, and modification of DNA at any chosen position. Recombineering DNA using Red/ET has a number of advantages over conventional methods, such as independent of restriction sites, no size limits, no unwanted mutations, and quickness, according to Gene Bridges.

Synamatix will partner with GeneWorks for the provision of sequencing and bioinformatics research support to customers within Asia and Australia. The first project under this collaboration will be the de novo sequencing of microbial organisms.

GeneWorks will provide next-generation sequencing services, with Synamatix delivering bioinformatics analysis tasks under its SynaWorks program. SynaWorks leverages the company’s pipeline of bioinformatics solutions for processing, mining, analyzing, and visualizing data generated from 454 and Illumina sequencing platforms.

Integrated DNA Technologies will design, synthesize, and purify the fusion primers required for certain sequencing applications from Roche’s 454 Life Sciences. The partnership offers Genome Sequencer FLX System users a solution for primer creation, streamlining workflow, and relieving bioinformatics burdens, according to the companies.

These applications include ultradeep amplicon sequencing for detection of low-frequency mutations in disease associated genes and the comprehensive identification and quantification of common and rare variants within a population.

IDT's online fusion primer design tool uses a gene-specific database number or a supplied reference sequence to build appropriate 454 FusionPrimers for targeted DNA regions including individual exons or all exons from one or more genes. The software takes into account performance metrics of the entire fusion primer rather than simply adding 454’s universal adaptor sequence to an otherwise standard PCR primer, IDT notes.

Synamatix will partner with GeneWorks for the provision of sequencing and bioinformatics research support to customers within Asia and Australia. The first project under this collaboration will be the de novo sequencing of microbial organisms.

GeneWorks will provide next-generation sequencing services, with Synamatix delivering bioinformatics analysis tasks under its SynaWorks program. SynaWorks leverages the company’s pipeline of bioinformatics solutions for processing, mining, analyzing, and visualizing data generated from 454 and Illumina sequencing platforms.

Vion Pharmaceuticals signed on Institut Paoli-Calmettes to conduct a multicenter Phase I/II trial of laromustine as a treatment for acute myelogenous leukemia. The study will enroll patients aged 18-60 with previously untreated AML and a poor prognosis based on their cytogenetic profile. The trial is expected to start this fall and will be conducted at various sites in France.

After the dose of Cloretazine in combination with daunorubicin and cytarabine is determined in Phase I, the Phase II investigation will determine the complete remission rate. Secondary objectives will be to evaluate the tolerance and toxicities of the combination therapy as well as progression-free survival and overall survival. Patients will be stratified according to age (less than or more than 60 years of age). The prognostic value of various molecular markers will also be studied.

Laureate Pharma has purchased two single-use bioreactors (S.U.B.) from HyClone. The acquisition includes a 250 L and a 1,000 L S.U.B. The company anticipates increased manufacturing capacity and greater flexibility.

The buy will supplement Laureate's current single-use bioreactors-Wave Bioreactors® and hollow-fiber systems-as well as the conventional stainless steel stirred-tank bioreactors.

AnaSpec will manufacture and supply BD Biosciences with fluorescent dyes. The agreement covers BD™ dyes H7, Calcein AM, and DiIC12(3).

H7, or HiLyte Fluor 750 Bis-NHS ester, carries two amine-reactive groups on each dye molecule for general labeling of protein amine groups. Calcein AM can be used to fluorescently pre- and postlabel viable cells to perform kinetic and endpoint experiments, respectively. DiIC12(3) is commonly used for the labeling of neuronal projections as well as lipid bilayers in other cell types.

Queen's University is tapping Xceed's Ziplex System, an automated gene expression analysis tool, to advance translational research and predict the clinical outcomes in follicular lymphoma.

"Our previous research identified a number of genes whose expression levels in primary follicular lymphoma were correlated with a five-year outcome,” says Harriet Feilotter, Ph.D., the principal investigator at the department of pathology and molecular medicine. "The Ziplex System will facilitate and streamline the critical next phase of our research to validate the signature.”

ETI Karle Clinical, based in India, will conduct Oramed Pharmaceuticals Phase IIb trials on its oral insulin capsules in diabetic type 2 patients.

It is anticipated that the Phase IIb study will enroll 60 subjects and begin in the first quarter of 2009.

Asuragen granted Focus Diagnostics the nonexclusive, worldwide rights to incorporate Armored RNA® technology into its in vitro molecular diagnostics products. Asuragen will develop and supply reagents in its QSR-compliant manufacturing facility.

Armored RNA is a technology invented and developed by Asuragen and Cenetron Diagnostics for the packaging of RNA or DNA in bacteriophage coat proteins for protection and stabilization.

Tocris Bioscience signed an exclusive deal with AstraZeneca to supply Gefitinib (also known as Iressa™ and ZD1839) to preclinical researchers working on the mechanisms underlying cancer development. Strict conditions have been imposed by AstraZeneca to ensure that it is not used in human studies, notes Duncan Tocris.

For the first time, scientists will be able to buy authentic, fully licensed, nonformulated Gefitinib as an off-the shelf product for use in biological research, according to Tocris.

Gefitinib targets and blocks the activity of the EGFR-TK (epidermal growth factor tyrosine kinase), an enzyme that regulates intracellular signaling pathways implicated in cancer cell proliferation and survival. It is approved for the treatment of advanced non-small-cell lung cancer (NSCLC) in 36 countries.

SciGene and ARUP Laboratories inked a deal to develop an automated platform for processing DNA samples used in microarray-based tests for detecting genetic defects. The goal is to develop a method that will process patient samples in less than one working day.& nbsp;

ARUP Laboratories will test and optimize procedures performed on SciGene’s ArrayPrep™ Target Preparation System. It is a robotic liquid-handling and incubation platform designed to automate procedures used to label, purify, and load patient DNA samples onto microarrays.

Fluidigm reports that LGC, a company focused on laboratory services and measurement standards, has purchased a BioMark™ System for genetic analysis for use in its U.K. laboratories. The system with its integrated fluidic circuit (IFC) technology adds digital PCR to LGC's existing range of capabilities, which includes quantitative PCR, genotyping, gene expression, copy number variation, and absolute quantification for sequencing.

LGC is the first company in the U.K. to buy the system. Initial LGC work with IFC technology will focus on digital PCR and gene expression opportunities within the company's research and technology division. It will be used to look at the accurate quantification of rare target sequences for diagnostic development and for monitoring the efficiency of drugs. Further application across the company's three other divisions, LGC standards, life & amp; food sciences, and LGC forensics, is anticipated.

The BioMark System uses integrated fluidic circuit technology to reduce complexity, improve throughput with nanoliter precision, and provide cost-savings (less reagent and smaller samples) for high-throughput genotyping applications, according to Fluidigm.

Beckman Coulter selected Oco’s business intelligence solution for reporting and analysis. Oco’s Inventory Management module will be deployed in Beckman Coulter’s services business. It will integrate data from various sources to identify service supply chain performance and inventory levels across multiple geographies, organizations, and product lines.

& nbsp;"We selected Oco because of its unique ability to rapidly deploy its solution,” said Craig Cole, global strategic operations director for Beckman Coulter. "Another important factor was Oco’s ability to integrate data from multiple systems and produce focused reports to understand and drive performance improvement across multiple dimensions of our services business.”

Fluidigm appointed Bio-Gene Technology as its exclusive distributor of the BioMark™ System for genetic analysis in Hong Kong. In Australia and New Zealand, Fluidigm has set up a similar exclusive deal with Millennium Science.& nbsp;

The BioMark System utilizes integrated fluidic circuits that contain a microscopic matrix of channels, valves, and chambers on a silicone-based chip that can perform over two thousand experiments at a time, according to Fluidigm. Its uses include real-time PCR, genotyping, gene expression, copy number variation, and absolute quantification for sequencing.

AstraZeneca plans to use Melior Discovery’s theraTRACE® discovery platform to evaluate selected compounds. "Melior will be providing a comprehensive in vivo profile of all of these compounds,” says Andrew Reaume, president and CEO of Melior.

The firm developed this technology of multiplexed in vivo disease models to uncover new indications for existing pharmaceutical compounds. Melior believes that the ideal molecules to enter the theraTRACE® platform are mid- to late-stage clinical compounds previously discontinued for reasons other than safety.

Waters and Proteome Software entered into a collaboration to provide compatibility between their complementary data acquisition and interpretation software. The anticipated release of the new version of software is in the fourth quarter of 2008.

Researchers acquiring high-definition proteomics data with the Waters® IdentityE High Definition™ proteomics system will soon be able to bring that data into Proteome Software’s Scaffold 2.1 visualization software, providing high-accuracy protein identifications, the companies report.

Sanofi-aventis& nbsp;has increased its access to ImmunoGen’s& nbsp;Tumor-Activated Prodrug (TAP) technology. The expansion earned ImmuGen $3.5 million.

The agreement now extends until August 31, 2011 and can be renewed by sanofi-aventis for one additional three-year term through the payment of a $2 million fee. ImmunoGen is entitled to earn upfront and milestone payments potentially totaling $32 million per target for each compound developed under the 2006 agreement as well as royalties on commercial sales. ImmunoGen also is entitled to manufacturing payments for any materials made on behalf of sanofi-aventis.

Expansion of the collaboration was an option granted under a 2006 agreement. Excercising the option enables sanofi-aventis to evaluate, with certain restrictions, the maytansinoid TAP technology with antibodies to targets not included in the existing research collaboration between the companies. It also allows the firm to license the exclusive right to use the technology to develop products to specific targets on the terms in the 2006 agreement.

Carna Biosciences will supply a set of discrete protein kinases to Caliper Life Sciences. This agreement will expand Caliper’s& nbsp; kinase profiling and assay development services as well as ProfilerPro Kinase Selectivity Assay Kits.

"Working with Caliper provides Carna with access to a wealth of new opportunities to expand sales of protein kinases throughout the worldwide market,” points out Kohichiro Yoshino, president and CEO of Carna Biosciences.

Formerly a services company, ChanTest is expanding its offerings by providing a selection of its fully validated cell lines to researchers for use in house. More information on the nine cell lines being made available can be obtained at http://www.chantestchannels.com.

The nine cell lines have been validated on the major ion channel platforms including manual patch clamp, PatchXpress®, QPatch, IonWorks®, Quattro™, and FLIPR-Tetra®, according to Arthur Brown, founder and CEO. Optimization on all platforms is in progress. Brown reported that& nbsp;the firm& nbsp;will expand the number of cell lines available during 2008 to 64. By June 2009, the company intends to have 120 cell lines validated and optimized, he added during an interview with GEN at "Drug Discovery and Development of Innovative Therapeutics" conference in Boston.

The cell lines now available include the following: Channel: hERG hERG KvLQT1-MinK Kir2.1 Kv1.5 Cell Type: HEK293 CHO CHO HEK293 HEK293 Channel: Kv4.3 HCN4 Nav1.7 Kv1.3 Cell Type: HEK293 HEK293 CHO HEK293.

"Some companies prefer to maintain testing in house,” comments Brown. "For those customers, we're pleased to offer a new way that researchers can benefit from ChanTest's ion channel expertise and exhaustive study of the characteristics of our ion channel library by purchasing our validated cell lines.”

Wyeth Discovery Research scientists are now using Tripos International’s Benchware® Discovery 360 system (v.4.0). Accenture, a global management consulting and technology services company, also played a role in the joint project.

The goal was to improve Wyeth’s abilities to discover new drugs and make better use of research data,” David Lowis, senior director of product management at Tripos, told GEN at the Tripos exhibition booth shortly after the announcement was made at the annual "Drug Discovery and Development of Innovative Therapeutics” conference in Boston.

"We wanted to eliminate manual manipulation of data and the use of multiple tools,” Lowis continued. "Benchware Discovery 360 allows the scientists to accomplish this.” The system gives scientists a single point of entry from which they can access and analyze data from disparate enterprise repositories and share the knowledge gained, according to Lowis. "It used to take the Wyeth scientists five to eight hours to get a data set from multiple sources,” pointed out Lowis. "Now they can do it in a matter of minutes.”

The initial deployment and user training for Benchware Discovery 360 was provided to 250 scientists and will be deployed to all 1,200 discovery scientists by the end of 2008, said Lowis. In addition, Tripos continues to work with Wyeth to implement new data analysis and visualization capabilities. "We anticipate that this application will have a significant impact not only on the speed and efficiency with which our scientists can access, share, and asses data but also on the overall data packages we’re are able to generate for our research,” commented Frank Walsh, Ph.D., executive vp of discovery, Wyeth Research.

TGen Drug Development Services (TD2) provides Apthera with drug development and regulatory services related to the clinical development of NeuVax™, its lead immunotherapy for the adjuvant treatment of early-stage, lymph-node-positive breast cancer that contains the HER2 oncogene.

Apthera is currently preparing NeuVax for pivotal international Phase III trials.

Invitrogen& nbsp;licensed an engineered stem cell line from the Buck Institute for Age Research. Called BG01 Olig2-GFP, the stem cell line is engineered to track the Olig2 gene. This gene controls a protein that maintains a neural stem cell’s ability to replicate early in brain development and then directs it to form a particular type of neural cell.

"This line of stem cells adds to Invitrogen’s expanding portfolio of engineered stem cells,” notes Joydeep Goswami, Invitrogen vp of primary and stem cell systems. In May, the company obtained a license for human embryonic stem cell patents from WARF, the Wisconsin Alumni Research Foundation.

Sequenom& nbsp;will exclusively supply platform technology and reagents to commercialize SensiGen’s& nbsp;chronic kidney disease and lupus tests. The companies previously allied to commercialize SensiGen’s HPV test on Sequenom’s MassARRAY platform.

The expanded agreement also gives Sequenom a future right to a minority equity interest in SensiGen.

Metabolon agreed to test materials developed by LS9, a company developing hydrocarbon biofuels. Applying Metabolon’s biochemical profiling services, researchers will seek to identify changes in metabolites that occur during biofuel production. Metabolon’s technology will assist LS9’s efforts to optimize cellular metabolism in its Renewal Petroleum™ production process.

"As interest in the use of metabolomics has continued to grow, we have seen increased uptake from industry sectors like biofuel production,” points out John Ryals, chief executive of Metabolon. "Processes like those at LS9 are well-suited for Metabolon’s biochemical profiling technology, as we are able to provide the only true global picture of the reactions taking place at a biochemical level. This has an immediate and measurable impact on design of the fermentation processes in use, which creates significant return in greater production and lowered cost.”

Agilent Technologies plans to use Roche Diagnostics’ melting curve analysis technology in its products. This technique is used for the analysis of PCR products. After PCR, the resulting PCR product is slowly heated. Each double-stranded DNA has its own specific melting temperature, which is defined as the temperature at which 50% of the DNA becomes single stranded. By measurement of the melting temperature, the DNA can be easily identified.

Under the terms of this nonexclusive licensing agreement, Agilent will obtain the rights to use, develop, and sell products based on melting curve analysis.

Inverness Medical Innovations& nbsp;and Thermo Fisher Scientific& nbsp;agreed to extend their Triage distribution relationship by two years through December 2010.

The extended coexclusive deal will cover all the cardiology and drugs-of-abuse rapid tests manufactured by the Biosite subsidiary of Inverness and sold under the Triage brand. This includes products for BNP, troponin, CK-MB, myoglobin, d-dimer, and a range of meter and visually read drugs-of-abuse tests. Products sold for use on third-party instruments are not included.

InteRNA and Applied Biosystems will comarket InteRNA’s small RNA bioinformatics pipeline, miR-Intess™, for users of Applied Biosystems' SOLiD system.

The basic miR-Intess pipeline generates tabular as well as graphical output. Besides sample and sequencing statistics, data on known and candidate novel miRNAs (miRNAs) are provided, allowing simultaneous digital-expression profiling and small RNA discovery. Furthermore, links to miRNA target predictions and public databases are available. Customized solutions and pipeline extensions are available on request.

Researchers at Harvard Medical School say they are using a range of& nbsp; Thermo Fisher Scientific’s mass spectrometry instrumentation for targeted proteomics applications.

John M. Asara, Ph.D., director of the mass spectrometry core facility at the Beth Israel Deaconess Medical Center (BIDMC) and colleagues have used a Thermo Scientific LTQ™ linear ion trap and LTQ Orbitrap XL™ to develop proteomics-based strategies for identifying novel signaling proteins and modifications of functional significance to cancer pathways.

These techniques have also been applicable to his work on fossilomics (the analysis of fossil bone proteins from extinct organisms). Along with scientists from North Carolina State University, Dr.& nbsp; Asara has extracted and sequenced tiny pieces of collagen protein from dinosaurs. The sequences from a 68 million year old Tyrannosaurus Rex and a 160,000–600,000 year old mastodon are the oldest to ever be reported. The researchers proposed a link between the T. rex and current day chickens and the mastodon with modern elephants.

Novocell& nbsp;will use International Stem Cell’s (ISCO)& nbsp;human parthenogenetic stem cell lines for differentiation to human pancreatic islet cells. The studies will be directed by Nikolay Turovets, Ph.D., director, research and therapeutic development at ISCO, in collaboration with Novocell scientists.

Novocell has developed technology to direct embryonic stem cells to become pancreatic islet cells. These have been shown to be effective in treating diabetes in animals, according to the company. The firms hope that the combination of their technologies will result in therapeutic cells with improved immune properties for treatment of diabetes.

Roche Diagnostics reports that it will support the Oxford Biomedical Research Centre (OxBRC) in improved genetic and cytogenetic testing. 454’s next-generation sequencing technology and Roche NimbleGen’s high-density arrays will be used.

In the course of their research project, Oxford will install several 454 Genome Sequencer FLX systems and employ NimbleGen arrays as a preparative tool for sequencing and genome-wide detection of copy number variation.

The marriage of these new innovative technologies for clinical genetic testing will be thoroughly evaluated, according to Roche. Clinically documented samples ascertained for selected diseases will be tested in three areas: sequencing of several genes known for private familial mutations, mutation screening in a large number of genes, and identification of genes and regions with genomic imbalances.

Expression Analysis& nbsp;has been contracted to provide microarray expression-profiling services to The Immunological Genome Project. The firm will participate in the generation of a complete microarray dissection of gene expression in the immune system of the mouse.

The focus will be on primary cells ex vivo. The cells will be analyzed through different states of maturation, innate or adaptive immune responses, effector stages, and different tissue localization.

Expression Analysis is expected to process thousands of mouse specimens over the next couple years. The company reports that it has the capacity to process over 80,000 arrays per year on the Affymetrix and Illumina platforms and the additional capacity of the Heliscope next-generation DNA sequencer technology.

Veeda Clinical Research selected& nbsp; Thermo Fisher Scientific’s Watson LIMS™ to automate its laboratory processes in its bioanalytical research facilies in Ahmedabad, India, and Oxford, U.K.& nbsp; Veeda Clinical Research is an Anglo/Indian CRO which also has offices in the Belgium, Germany, the U.S., and France.

Watson LIMS has been deployed in the& nbsp; bioanalytical laboratory in India for the analysis of drugs and metabolites for small molecules and in their biomarker and large molecule laboratory in the U.K.

Cordis’ biologics delivery systems group will supply catheters for the upcoming Phase I/II clinical trial of Gamida Cell’s CardioCure product for the treatment of post-myocardial infarction& nbsp; patients. CardioCure is a ex-vivo expanded autologous& nbsp; bone marrow product.

The randomized, controlled multicenter Phase I/II trial, due to start in Q4 2008 in Israel, will evaluate the safety and efficacy of Gamida-Cell’s CardioCure in 48 post-MI patients. CardioCure will be injected directly into the myocardium using the latest generation of the NOGA® Cardiac Navigation System and MyoStar® Injection Catheter.

"The NOGA® XP Cardiac Navigation System is a highly sophisticated and accurate electro-guided methodology, which creates precise, 3-dimensional images of the heart. This will enable us to identify damaged myocardial tissue and accurately deliver the CardioCure injections into the relevant area in order to assist with functional restoration of the damaged heart,” says Ran Kornowski, Ph.D., director of interventional cardiology and cardiac catheterization laboratories at the Rabin Medical Center and a leading principal investigator in the Gamida-Cell CardioCure clinical study.

ImmunoCellular Therapeutics has exclusively licensed from Cedars-Sinai Medical Center peptides tjhat the company believes can stimulate the immune system to target cancer stem cells (CSCs) in gliomas. These peptides were specifically designed to elicit a T-cell response targeting CD133-positive& nbsp;CSCs.

Lonza and Bar Harbor BioTechnology (BHB) signed an exclusive sales agreement under which Lonza has become the sole global distributor of StellARray™ products from BHB.

"Focused gene expression analysis is an important application for primary cells, and this agreement enables customers to purchase their primary cells and the tools to carry out gene expression from one single source,” says Shawn Cavanagh, president of Lonza Bioscience.

The Cancer Genomics Group at Barts and The London Medical School is researching leukemia with the 454& nbsp;Genome& nbsp;Sequencer FLX system paired with the Roche NimbleGen Sequence Capture arrays. Scientists say that they will use the combined technology to uncover the genetic changes that are involved in the development of leukemia.

Planned research projects include the sequence analysis of key genes and genomic regions that are involved in acute myeloid leukemia (AML), analysis of miRNA expression profiles, and paired-end analysis of microdeletion events.

Genedata and Axxam signed a multiyear contract for the implementation of the Genedata Screener® analysis and management platform into Axxam’s high-throughput screening process.

According to Genedata, the product& nbsp; analyzes, integrates, and manages all assay data and then combines it with chemical, pharmacological, and in vivo information to support scientists in prioritizing compounds and identifying quality lead structures.

Avance and Wiborg signed a collaboration agreement under which Wiborg has been appointed the exclusive distributor for the ri:val® system in the Nordic and Baltic countries. This software tool is used for the valuation of technology, products, and companies in the life sciences industry, according to Avance officials.

Additionally, Avance and Wiborg will collaborate on providing consultancy on valuation and licensing to companies and investors in the life science area.

The University of Texas, Health Sciences Center at Houston (UTHSC-H) selected GenoLogics to provide an informatics solution to support its clinical and translational research initiative. The UTHSC-H is partnering with The University of Texas M. D. Anderson Cancer Center and the Memorial Hermann Hospital System.

The GenoLogics’ data management system was chosed because it can integrate the omics data and healthcare information into a common platform across multiple facilities and collaborators, according to UTHSC-H.

Researchers participating in a new initiative funded by the Wellcome Trust have chosen Illumina’s Infinium HD BeadChips to analyze 90,000 DNA samples. The goal is to decipher the molecular basis of human disease and includes participation from research groups around the globe.

Scientists at the Wellcome Trust Case Control Consortium 2 (WTCCC2) and 12 independent consortia will collect DNA samples and analyze them for both SNPs and copy number variants. In addition to 90,000 samples collected from study participants, 6,000 control samples will be collected and analyzed using Illumina's Infinium HD Human1M-Duo BeadChip.

Genzyme selected Sparta Systems’ software to enhance its quality-management program. TrackWise is a process-management QMS software that enables companies to ensure compliance, improve control, reduce risk, and lower costs by consolidating management of issues and actions, automating workflow, and facilitating trending and reporting.

Genzyme purchased TrackWise to handle corrective and rreventive actions as well as deviations and investigations.

A team of researchers at the Fraunhofer Institute& nbsp;is using Affymetrix’& nbsp;Whole Transcript& nbsp; gene-expression technology to analyze the molecular mechanisms involved in the development of drug-induced liver injury. The ultimate goal of the project is to develop a diagnostic array that can detect signals of liver toxicity earlier and more accurately than traditional techniques.

Affymetrix GeneChip® Exon and Gene Arrays allow for a more complete and accurate picture of overall gene expression& nbsp; than traditional 3'-based expression arrays, according to the company, by enabling users to interrogate the entire length of the gene, not just the 3' end.

DOR BioPharma& nbsp;has contracted Numoda& nbsp;for services related to its Phase III trial of orBec® for the treatment of gastrointestinal graft-versus-host disease. Numoda will also take an equity position in DOR common stock.

DOR will gain access to services including benchmarking capabilities that will allow the firm to develop operational and financial plans. Barring any unforeseen modifications to the Phase III program, Numoda will guarantee the agreed clinical trial budget against cost overruns.

In addition, Numoda will also provide a data lock at the end of the clinical trial, which, will reportedly expedite completion of the study while also increasing quality.

Cellumen entered a collaboration with the National Center for Toxicology Research (NCTR), an FDA research center. Cellumen will use its CellCiphr® toxicity risk assessment technology to profile blinded samples of both failed and marketed drugs. The NCTR will use this information to develop a liver-toxicity knowledge base.

Cellumen, on the other hand, will utilize the profiling and compound-safety data& nbsp; to further develop the CellCiphr database, types of cell panels, as well as to advance the classifier informatics tools.

Sigma-Aldrich entered into a five-year collaboration to develop optimal cell lines for the production of monoclonal antibodies with the University of California, San Francisco, which will lead the research.& nbsp; Research targets will be determined by a steering committee and will include cancer targets, stem cell surface markers, and autoimmune disease targets. UCSF will have free access to the antibodies resulting from the partnership for its ongoing immunology and disease research.

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Strategic Diagnostics will expand its relationship with the University of Oregon, Eugene and the Louisiana State University Health Science Center by supplying antibodies for the study of Usher Syndrome, a condition characterized by progressive hearing and vision loss. The antibodies will be used in the researchers’ zebrafish and mouse model systems of the disease. "These tools will enable us to visualize the complex interaction of proteins in our disease models,” reports Monte Westerfield of U. of Oregon. SDI will produce the antibodies through its Genomic Antibody Technology™ platform and retain the commercial rights to the antibodies produced.

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Monogram Biosciences will provide resistance testing and consultative services for Gilead Science’s Elvitegravir Phase III studies. Monogram assays will be used to screen patients for study enrollment and help select drugs to be given in conjunction with Elvitegravir during the study.Both Monogram's Integrase phenotype and genotype assays were used in Elvitegravir preclinical and Phase II studies, and will be used to evaluate Phase III patient outcomes.

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OncoMethylome Sciences will provide MGMT gene-promoter methylation testing services for Merck KGaA’s clinical trial program of cilengitide.

As part of the agreement, Merck received a worldwide, nonexclusive license to use the results for optimizing glioblastoma multiforme (GBM) treatment with cilengitide.

The Institute of Biotechnology (IBT) of the Czech Academy of Sciences reports that is purchasing a Fluidigm BioMark™ genetic analysis system. The move was made to support a major central European effort on high-throughput real-time PCR expression profiling, according to IBT.

While conventional real-time PCR instruments measure 96 reactions in parallel, the microfluidic BioMark platform reportedly analyzes up to 96 x 96 parallel reactions simultaneously. "This exceedingly high throughput will be extremely useful for our single cell expression profiling work,” says Mikael Kubista, head of the IBT lab of gene expression.

Shimadzu Scientific Instruments and the Fred Hutchinson Cancer Research Center are collaboration to develop new analytical platforms for the detection and analysis of cancer-related proteins and peptides.

The main goal of this partnership is to develop, enhance, and apply innovative multidimensional analytical platforms to overcome sample complexity issues and the current technology limitations.

Applied Biosystems and its joint venture partner, MDS Analytical Technologies, as well as Premier Biosoft International are working together to deliver solutions for glycobiology research worldwide.

Applied Biosystems/MDS Analytical Technologies will comarket and resell Premier Biosoft’s SimGlycan, a high-throughput glycan mass fingerprinting tool, for use with Applied Biosystems/MDS Analytical

Technologies’ mass spectrometers including the 4800 Plus MALDI TOF/TOF™ Analyzer, the 4000 QTRAP® System, and the QSTAR® Elite System.

Roche NimbleGen and BioDiscovery pan to offer complete solutions to comparative genomic hybridization (CGH) microarray customers. The new high-density 2.1 million probe (HD2) arrays of Roche NimbleGen will be combined with BioDiscovery’s Nexus Copy Number software. The companies will comarket and co-promote their products and services to scientists worldwide.

PartnerTech and Biotage expanded their cooperative activities to include the manufacture of instruments for DNA analysis and microwave synthesis. The agreement, which runs for two years, is worth an estimated SEK 40 million, or $6.65 million, annually.

Biotage previously collaborated with PartnerTech on the development and production of its DNA instruments. The new agreement covers ongoing manufacture of current products as well as serial production of a new DNA instruments that PartnerTech developed, according to Biotage.

Biocrates Life Sciences signed a worldwide comarketing agreement with Applied Biosystems to promote the latter’s mass spectrometers for targeted metabolomics and for use in conjunction with its AbsoluteIDQ™ kits.

In addition, Applied Biosystems will promote the AbsoluteIDQ kits for targeted metabolomics in conjunction with its triple quadrupole and QTRAP® series instruments.

Geneva Bioinformatics (GeneBio) will distribute on a global basis Protagen's Modiro®, a software tool designed for allowing the automated detection of true post-translational modifications in MS/MS datasets.

GeneBio and Protagen will also collaborate to link the Modiro functionalities to GeneBio's Phenyx software platform for MS data analysis.

StemSoft Software and BioE say they entered into a partnership to provide cord blood banks a solution for comprehensive cord blood data management and cord blood processing. The integrated solution combines BioE’s PrepaCyte®-CB cord blood processing system with StemSoft’s StemLab cord blood banking software.

The combination will help banks achieve high stem cell yields for eventual therapeutic application in humans as well as efficiently record, track, and manage all associated cell processing and storage data, according to the companies.

Johns Hopkins University School of Medicine has purchased Sequenom’s MassARRAY® system. The technology will be used in the DNA Diagnostic Lab of the McKusick-Nathans Institute of Genetic Medicine and the Translational Technology Core of the Institute for Translational Clinical Research.

Scientists plan to use the system as a platform for genotyping, clinical genotyping, DNA methylation, and quantitative gene expression analyses.

GenoLogics reports a partnership with GenVault for its biospecimen data-management system BioVault.

"We recognize the significance of biospecimen repositories with well annotated clinical information to biomedical research and have embarked on a strategic endeavor to provide a full product line of integrated software systems,” says GenoLogics’ vp of market strategy, James DeGreef. "We are excited about releasing our first biomedical product, BioVault, which is part of our total solution to help clients better manage their biosamples and related data.”

Thermo Fisher Scientific says it formed an alliance between its Biomarker Research Initiatives in Mass Spectrometry (BRIMS) center and George Mason University’s Center for Applied Proteomics and Molecular Medicine (CAPMM) to accelerate biomarker validation for early disease diagnosis.

A key challenge in biomarker research has been independent validation of experimental results, Thermo Fisher points out. The newly formed alliance will overcome this challenge by creating a cross-validation workflow between BRIMS and the University laboratory. Both labs will use identical Thermo Scientific Quantum™ Ultra triple quadrupole mass spectrometers to analyze assays.

Primetech agreed to become the exclusive supplier of Seahorse Bioscience’s XF instruments and consumables in Japan.

"Our customers are interested in studying mitochondrial dysfunction and in particular its role in cancer, obesity, and age-related diseases,” points out Ryosuke Ogihara, CEO of Primetech. "Seahorse XF instruments offer the only practical way to study mitochondria in whole cells.”

Introduced in June of 2006, Seahorse extracellular flux (XF) analyzers provide the first and only method to noninvasively measure the two major energy producing pathways, mitochondrial respiration and glycolysis, in living cells, according to Seahorse.

Wyatt Technology reports that its instruments have been chosen by a group of Czech scientists for polymer characterization. Researchers from SYNPO, a research institute for synthetic resins and coatings, and the Institute of Polymeric Materials, University of Pardubice, Czech Republic, will use these tools to study the characterization of molar mass distribution of synthetic and natural polymers.

The researchers combined Wyatt’s Eclipse separation system with the DAWN MALS photometer to generate a A4F (asymmetric flow field fractionation) tool for polymer analysis and characterization.

Roche installed the first 454 Genome Sequencer FLX System at the Institute of Genomics and Integrative Biology (IGIB) in Delhi.

IGIB plans to use the system for all applications possible, with a special focus on metagenomics and de novo genome sequencing. The Centre for Genomic Application (TCGA) will provide the sequencing services to the customers.

Crelux and ProQinase entered into a joint agreement to supply customers with crystal-grade protein kinases and readily available kinase complex structures.

The companies report that they will establish and continuously expand an off-the-shelf crystal-grade protein kinase portfolio, optimized and quality-controlled for successful crystallization.

In addition, Crelux and ProQinase say they will work closely together to provide new crystal-grade protein or crystal structures, tailored to meet customers’ needs.

Promega and GeneCopoeia’s have joined forces to offer prepared gene content for protein-function experiments.

Progmega’s HaloTag® protein-fusion technology has been combined with GeneCopoeia’s library of human and mouse open reading frame (ORF) OmicsLink™ sequences. The resulting expression clones saves upto weeks of time, according to Sun Lu, executive vp of GeneCopoeia.

Gene Bridges reports that Novozymes has completed a commercial license agreement for the use of its Red/ET recombination technology. Gene Bridges licensed the platform to Novozymes to genetically engineer microorganisms for use in industrial applications.

Red/ET is a method for DNA engineering. Recombineering with Red/ET allows unlimited cloning, subcloning, and modification of DNA at any chosen position, according to Gene Bridges.

Digilab Genomic Solutions (DGS) and CyBio inked deals to combine dispensing technologies and that will make DGS a supplier of certain parts.

Under the distribution and supply arrangement, DGS and CyBio will together manufacture and distribute DGS’ Hummingbird-Plus parallel pipetting instrument for ultralow-volume range applications (down to 25 nL). Digilab will supply Hummingbird® dispensing heads and cassettes, both in 96 and 384-well format. CyBio will then manufacture and integrate the product with its modular CyBi®-Well automation platform. Digilab will own worldwide distribute rights for the Hummingbird-Plus instruments.

In addition the firms entered a license and supply agreement, under which DGS will license intellectual property related to dispensing heads for use in connection with CyBio’s CyBi-Well vario instrument. Additionally, DGS will manufacture and supply the capillary cassettes for the CyBi-Well vario instrument.

Merial purchased Genostar’s Iogma® 3.4 Metabolic Pathway Builder software. The product, which is a new package that integrates three modules of the company’s bioinformatics products-GenoAnnot, ProteoAnnot, and PathwayExplorer-offers a number of different tools used to analyze high-throughput bacterial genome, protein, and metabolism data, according to Genostar.

The product also includes Genostar’s microB, a managed database of more than 450 microbial organisms, sourced and then standardized from many commonly used but very differently organized reference databases around the world, Genostar adds.

Ingenuity Systems and Pfizer& nbsp;formed a strategic multi-year partnership that will promote enterprise-wide deployment of Ingenuity Pathway Analysis (IPA). In addition, Pfizer will integrate IPA and content from the Ingenuity knowledge base with other informatics solutions used throughout the Pfizer organization.

"Through IPA, our internal scientists can access quality information to model and analyze complex biological and chemical systems and effectively share the information seamlessly across the organization,” says Giles Day, senior director of the targets and mechanisms informatics group, Pfizer. "Our goal is to ensure our teams are selecting the best disease targets so that they will have higher confidence in the drug's mechanism of action and safety.”

Vertical*i and Thomson Scientific report the availability of the Vertical*i-Thomson Webservice, an interface between Vertical*i’s Application Suite and Thomson Pharma®.

Vertical*i's Application Suite is used to optimize the process of licensing drug compounds. Thomson Pharma is used for gathering information on the latest drugs, genetic sequences and targets, clinical trials and licensing opportunities, patents, journals, conferences, and academic articles.

Poniard Pharmaceuticals will use AltheaDx’ Express Pathway program to identify molecular evidence related to platinum resistance. The goal is to advance development of picoplatin, Poniard's lead candidate, and to eventually aid in treatment monitoring.

Poniard is developing picoplatin, a platinum agent, to overcome resistance issues. It is being evaluated in various cancer indications, combinations, and formulations. Clinical trials include a Phase III study in small-cell lung cancer, Phase II investigations in metastatic colorectal and hormone-refractory prostate cancers, and a Phase I program in solid tumors.

The Albert-Ludwigs University of Freiburg licensed Ariadne Genomics’ Pathway Studio® Enterprise system with the ResNet database of molecular interactions extracted from the whole PubMed. The researchers will use the product to support their mammalian, worm, and plant research.

"Ariadne’s core technology, MedScan®, enables automatic extraction of functional relationships from scientific text,” says Olivier Brun, Ariadne’s European accounts manager. "We routinely process PubMed abstracts and forty-three full-text journals to produce and update the ResNet database, currently containing about 1.5 million unique relationships.”

Proteome Sciences entered into an exclusive license deal for its TMT® isobaric tandem mass tag technology with Thermo Fisher Scientific. Proteome Sciences will manufacture its patented TMT reagents for Thermo Fisher Scientific, which will market and sell them worldwide.

Proteome Sciences will receive signature fees, contract manufacturing payments, and royalties on sales with additional sales milestones.

Invitrogen& nbsp;will become the exclusive North American distributor of all MitoSciences’& nbsp;products including antibodies and assays used for researching mitochondrial proteins and diseases.

MitoSciences currently has the largest collection of antimitochondrial mAbs and immunoassays, the companies say. The deal adds more than 200 new products to Invitrogen’s antibody and kit catalog.

As MitoSciences’ existing distribution agreements expire, Invitrogen will take over those transactions worldwide on an exclusive basis.

Caliper Life Sciences& nbsp;has gained access to Horizon Discovery& nbsp;isogenic cell lines and will incorporate them into its& nbsp; existing oncology cell-proliferation panel.

The agreement will expand Caliper Discovery Alliances and Services' (CDAS) oncology cell line and screening capabilities for testing single drugs and combination therapies. As a result, CDAS will now offer genetically defined and isogenic human cancer cell lines that allow researchers to better identify and characterize personalized drugs targeted at a specific subset of patients.

Sangamo BioScience entered into a license agreement with Palo Alto, CA-based& nbsp;Open Monoclonal Technologies (OMT) whereby Sangamo will provide a non-exclusive, worldwide license to OMT for the commercial use of transgenic animals generated using Sangamo's zinc finger DNA-binding protein (ZFP) technology.

OMT will pay Sangamo an upfront license fee, payments upon the achievement of certain clinical development milestones, a share of payments received by OMT from sublicensees, and royalties on sales of any products developed using Sangamo’s ZFP technology.

For any given OMT product, OMT has the right to buy out its future royalty payment obligations under the agreement by paying a lump sum fee to Sangamo.

BioTrove& nbsp;says it inked a new, nonexclusive marketing agreement with OSI Pharmaceuticals& nbsp;to provide clients with a complete solution for lead compound discovery.

Combining OSI Pharmaceuticals’ Integrated Lead Discovery Platform with BioTrove’s RapidFire™ mass spectrometry-based assay development, screening, and analysis services, the agreement will enable customers to pursue challenging drug targets in a highly accurate, efficient, and cost-effective manner, explains Albert A. Luderer, Ph.D., president and CEO, BioTrove.

"The collaboration addresses a critical, unmet need for companies in the biopharmaceutical industry, especially those without access to compound libraries or screening infrastructure,” continues Dr. Luderer.

"Our joint solution with OSI will enable increased research around novel targets for companies who may have crucial insights about disease progression, but do not specialize in large-scale high-throughput screening internally.”

Starpharma& nbsp;signed an agreement with Unilever to codevelop a research tool using Starpharma’s Priostar® dendrimer technology. An undisclosed fee is payable to Starpharma’s U.S. subsidiary, Dendritic Nanotechnologies (DNA), as part of the arrangement.

DNT will make its Priostar® dendrimers available to Unilever as imaging agents to analyze the microscopic structure of foods. Understanding the microstructure is an important factor in creating appetizing food, determining properties such as mouth-feel and controlled release of taste and smell, explains a Unilever official, who adds that the company’s research and development scientists will use the dendrimers for analysis purposes as part of one of their innovation projects.

"We are delighted to be working with a company of Unilever’s caliber and resources in this highly innovative application of Priostar® dendrimers. This agreement underscores the relevance of dendrimers across a wide variety of industries.” commented Robert Berry, president of Dendritic Nanotechnologies. "Dendrimers are relevant in the chemicals and materials industries as well as the pharmaceutical and medical sectors.”

This is the company’s second agreement with a commercial party for applications of Priostar® and it extends Starpharma’s recent commercial arrangements for its dendrimers. These include deals with EMD Chemicals, SSL, and Stiefel Laboratories.

BioTime& nbsp;and its wholly owned subsidiary, Embryome Sciences, signed a letter of intent with International Stem Cell and its wholly- wned subsidiary, Lifeline Cell Technology, to jointly produce and distribute a wide array of research products from human embryonic stem cell technology.

Under& nbsp;the collaborative production and manufacturing agreement, the parties intend to manufacture ESpy™ cell lines (complex derivatives of hES cells that send beacons of light in response to the activation of particular genes) as well as a host of supplies scientists will utilize in the field of stem cell research.

The progenitor cell lines will be produced and distributed in joint efforts utilizing Embryome Science’s Embryomics™ technology, its future embryome.com online database, and technology and approved hES cell lines licensed from the Wisconsin Alumni Research Foundation. Lifeline will contribute its manufacturing and quality control expertise.

Roche Applied Science and NuGEN Technologies entered into an agreement that will enable Roche to market and sell an RNA-amplification product based on the technology of& nbsp; NuGEN’s WT-Ovation™. The new product, called LightCycler® RNA Pre-Amplification Kit, is scheduled to be released in the third quarter.

The LightCycler® RNA Pre-Amplification Kit will allow researchers to conduct whole-transcriptome gene-expression analysis of clinical samples such as those archived for years in clinical repositories, according to Roche.

The coexclusive agreement calls for NuGEN to supply components for the LightCycler RNA Pre-Amplification Kit and provides Roche with limited access to the technology of NuGEN’s WT-Ovation.

AMDL entered into an exclusive sublicense agreement with MyGene International (MGI) for the MyGene HPV Chip Kit, a diagnostic product for in vitro genotype testing in women with HPV. The agreement between MGI and AMDL is an exclusive sublicense to use the patents, trademark, and technology in manufacturing, promoting, marketing, distributing, and selling the MyGene HPV Test Kit in China (including Hong Kong), Taiwan, Singapore, Malaysia, Thailand, Cambodia, and Vietnam.

MGI owns an exclusive, worldwide license with rights to sublicense for the MyGene HPV Test Kit, excluding Korea.

OncoMethylome Sciences gave LabCorp an exclusive license on certain IP technology to perform commercial MGMT methylation lab testing services in the U.S. and Canada. LabCorp’s Esoterix Clinical Trials Services Division was also selected by OncoMethylome as one of its preferred subcontractors of MGMT methylation testing services for clinical trials.

OncoMethylome qualifies for an upfront fee, milestone payments, and royalties.

RemedyMD and GulfStream Bioinformatics are partnering to provide a combination of applications, data, and tools to aid translational research. RemedyMD is incorporating GulfStream’s 75 disease models and biospecimen management system, BIGR®, into its Investigate™ software.

"The information technology aspect of medical research is hopelessly inefficient,” according to Gary D. Kennedy, CEO of RemedyMD. "Imagine how the pace of research could be accelerated if a research team started with a prebuilt registry that is already populated with relevant disease-specific data elements and had at their disposal a suite of applications and tools to eliminate their data-management burdens. GulfStream’s content and our applications provide all this and more so biomedical researchers can achieve dramatically better results.”

Labtech gains exclusive distribution rights to WaferGen Biosystems’ family of SmartSlide™ Micro-Incubation System products in the U.K. and France.

The SmartSlide system is a family of integrated fluidics exchange micro-incubation products that work with inverted microscopes. The technology is enabling cell biology and stem cell researchers to conduct complex time-lapse imaging studies to characterize, differentiate, and proliferate cells as well as grow stem, primary, and other difficult-to-cultivate cells in consistently optimal physiological conditions, according to WaferGen.

Roche NimbleGen and Affymetrix expanded the terms of the license to a number of Affymetrix patents originally granted in October 2006. The expanded license now provides certain diagnostic rights for array-based DNA copy number analysis and array-based resequencing in addition to covering the manufacture, use, and sale of nucleic acid microarrays and related products as well as services in the research field.

Roche NimbleGen produces high-density arrays of long oligo probes that provide "greater information content and higher data quality necessary for studying the full diversity of genomic and epigenomic variation,” claims a company spokesperson. Roche NimbleGen’s proprietary Maskless Array Synthesis (MAS) technology uses digital light processing and rapid, high-yield photochemistry to synthesize long oligo, high-density DNA microarrays, adds the Roche NimbleGen official.

Oxford Expression Techologies (OET) recently launched baculoXPRESS™, a new custom baculovirus expression service that the company says can be tailored to individual requirements.

The services available include gene synthesis, PCR cloning, subcloning, production of recombinant virus using flashBAC™ or flashBACGOLD™ virus DNA, optimization of expression, protein production and purification, and next day virus titration using OET’s baculoQUANT™ methodology.

"Each service provides defined deliverables with relevant documentation. The gene synthesis service meets the requirements of ISO 9001: 2000 and additional services are available on request,” notes& nbsp; James Bernard, coinvestor and acting CEO of the company.

Multiple sales of MassARRAY® systems have taken place in China, according to Sequenom. The company’s new customers include the Beijing Genomics Institute (BGI), which plans to initially use the system for its advanced research in viral genetics and later for human genetic projects, and CapitalBio, a company that plans expand into the fine mapping market from whole genome association studies.

"We chose Sequenom’s MassARRAY technology because it features a unique combination of throughput, accuracy, sensitivity, reproducibility, and cost efficiency,” explains Wang Wei, BGI’s director of viral genotyping.

"It is particularly suitable for the high-volume viral genotyping project and other population-screening projects we plan to undertake in the near future.”

Fujifilm Dimatix will supply Agilent Technologies with inkjet products based on semiconductor manufacturing technologies for use in life sciences applications. Agilent says that it uses the Fujifilm Dimatix inkjet technology to develop products that allow life scientists to target and analyze sequences of genetic material.

Fujifilm Dimatix says that it worked with Agilent to incorporate custom versions of the Dimatix Materials Cartridge (DMC) into Agilent’s life sciences applications. Specifically designed for R& amp;D and feasibility testing, the cartridge-style printhead, based on Fujifilm Dimatix’ Shaped Piezo Silicon™ MicroElectroMechanical Systems (MEMS) technology, enables Fujifilm Dimatix to develop printhead features and product families that are small and versatile, explains John Higginson, vp engineering, deposition products.

Expression Analysis bought Helicos BioSciences’ genetic analysis system. It consists of the HeliScope single molecule sequencer, the HeliScope analysis engine, and the Heliscope sample loader, all of which are designed for production-level genetic analysis.

Central to the platform is the proprietary sequencing-by-synthesis approach called True Single Molecule Sequencing (tSMS)™, notes Steve McPhail, president and CEO of Expression Analysis.

"Key applications including de novo sequencing, candidate gene sequencing, and digital gene expression offer the company opportunities to provide significant value-added services to our clients. For example, we will now be able to conduct cost-effective follow-up to genome-wide association studies through targeted resequencing.”

Novartis has gained access to Singulex’ biomarker detection technology through an Erenna™ Technology Access Program (ETAP). The Erenna system has been placed at Novartis’ Basel, Switzerland facility. The companies will work together to develop assays to advance Novartis’ drug development programs.

Erenna and accompanying assays are designed to measure low levels and small changes of protein biomarkers across a variety of biological samples from multiple species.

Xoma deployed Moda Technology Partners’ SQL*LIMS Micro/EM™ to automate environmental and utility monitoring and processes at their biologics manufacturing facilities in Berkeley, CA. SQL*LIMS Micro/EM is a solution combining paperless, mobile data acquisition with data visualization and analysis, explains David Lipson, Moda’s CEO and chairman.

The package is part of an expansion of the SQL*LIMS® product line, undertaken by Applied Biosystems with Moda.

Microchip Biotechnologies is collaborating with Stanford University to develop a front-end, microfluidic-based sample-preparation system to generate template libraries for superscalar pyrosequencing. The goal is to automate the complex, multistep upstream template production using MBI’s microscale on-chip valves (MOV™).

Pyrosequencing relies on the bioluminometric real-time detection of inorganic pyrophosphate that is released on successful incorporation of nucleotides during DNA synthesis.

"By integrating and automating the upstream sample processing, it is envisioned that a mammalian genome can be sequenced in a day,” according to Mostafa Ronaghi, Ph.D., senior research scientist and the principal investigator of the project at Stanford.

Invitrogen agreed to become the exclusive provider of fluorescent miRNA microarray labeling kits using Genisphere’s 3DNA® dendrimer signal amplification technology. This technology combined with Invitrogen’s Alexa Fluor® fluorescent dyes is now commercialized in the new NCode Rapid miRNA Labeling System, available from Invitrogen.

Genisphere’s 3DNA dendrimer technology is based on highly branched DNA structures serving as scaffolds for multitudes of fluorescent dyes. Using the technology, the NCode™ Rapid miRNA Labeling System can be used to to directly label miRNAs with fluorescent Alexa Fluor tags.

Invitrogen extended its partnership with Chroma Therapeutics to use its SelectScreen™ platform for biochemical screening of Chroma’s multitargeted kinase inhibitors. The work will be conducted at Invitrogen’s Paisley, Scotland facility.

SelectScreen™ profiling and screening service integrates enzyme collections and cell lines with bioassay technologies to accelerate drug discovery programs. "The SelectScreen collection of assays has been assembled to address therapeutically relevant targets, phylogenetic diversity, and key signaling pathways, all of which are of interest to companies developing kinase inhibiting compounds,” says Nick Ecos, vp and GM of Invitrogen’s discovery sciences business.

InforSense and Crosslinks formed a strategic partnership to support translational medicine research initiatives. Crosslinks has thus joined the InforSense Open Partner Network as a certified InforSense Solutions Provider in Europe for academic and commercial customers. The company also maintains a demonstration showcase center for InforSense technology in the Netherlands.

Crosslinks focuses on supporting clients in the analysis of genomics and proteomics data. The company combines knowledge of molecular biology with IT expertise, applying and integrating analyses software packages. In addition, Crosslinks also works in the field of molecular imaging of biomarkers.

The British Columbia Proteomics Network (BCPN) plans to install Geneva Bioinformatics’ Phenyx protein-identification platform. This software will be installed on the BCPN’s centralized server and will be available to all its members.

Developed in collaboration with the Swiss Institute of Bioinformatics, Phenyx is GeneBio’s software for the identification and characterization of proteins and peptides from mass spectrometry data.

Integromics plans to use Spotfire’s suite of products to create a genomics platform for the province of Andalusia in Spain. The goal is to build a support for life science practices throughout southern Spain.

The governments of Spain and Andalusia will fund the work, which will be coordinated by The University of Malaga and the University of Cordoba. The genomics platform will be created as an open environment that integrates information and applications. Researchers and scientists located at universities, hospitals, and laboratories will have a direct, interactive, visual approach to data analysis, the collaborators explain.

GVK Biosciences licensed its mechanism-based toxicity database, MBT, to AstraZeneca. MBT contains over 13,000 drug and drug-like compounds, their routes of metabolism, toxic indications, and the numerical values of the measures of toxicity, according to GVK. The data has been manually curated from over 35,000 individual references, the company adds.

The license represents an extension of the existing rights to all GVK target and drug databases. The GVK databases reportedly contain over 3.2 million compounds manually curated from patents and journals and represent over 7 million quantitative SAR data points.

Lonza has obtained the global, exclusive marketing and sales rights for Cellution Biotech’s CELL-tainer, a single-use bioreactor.

"The CELL-tainer bioreactor system complements the Lonza Bioscience Flexible Packaging product range, offering our clients higher cell densities and higher productivity with cell cultures,” notes Roel Gordijn, global sales and marketing director for the media business unit at Lonza Bioscience.

Genedata entered into an agreement with Roche for the company’s Genedata Expressionist® Refiner MS module. The product performs automated quality assessment and preprocessing of mass spec-based proteomics and metabolomics data.

"The module handles all MS data formats in a flexible high-throughput process, providing real-time interactive data quality assessment and processing hundreds of chromatograms simultaneously,” notes Othmar Pfannes, CEO of Genedata.

"Due to its open architecture, Refiner MS can be easily positioned in our lab workflows, allowing for optimal integration,” adds Hanno Langen, section head proteomics-pathways-functional genomics in the Roche molecular medicine laboratories in Basel. "The high performance qualities make it a key element in our proteomics process, for which the processing of large datasets is fundamental.”

Syngene reported the installation of its first G:BOX HR gel documentation system at the Institute of Chemical and Engineering Science (ICES), a research centre on Jurong Island, Singapore. This system will be used to automate analysis of gel and blot imaging in a number of molecular biology research programs.

The G:BOX HR system at the ICES features a high-resolution camera inside its own light-tight darkroom and comes with overhead white lighting, a 20 cm x 20 cm UV transilluminator and GeneTools, the company’s image analysis software.

Definiens and Cenix BioScience expanded their mutual licensing agreement related to Cenix’ use of the Definiens’ technology. Resulting from the findings of an internal review, Definiens’ Cellenger® was reselected as the best available application to support Cenix in the development and implementation of high-content microscopy assays for HT-RNAi studies in cultured human and rodent cells, according to Cenix.

Cellenger enables the automated extraction of data from images used in cell-based assays. It allows Cenix to analyze structures of interest even in complex images with high accuracy, notes a Cenix spokesperson.

Luminex reported the renewal and expansion of Invitrogen’s license and supply agreement for its multiplexed analyte detection technology and systems. The new deal extends the license and provides Invitrogen with access to Luminex’ multiplex detection platforms.

xMAP® technology and Luminex instrument platforms use proprietary microspheres encoded with combinations of spectrally distinct fluorescent dyes to& nbsp; determine the relative concentrations of& nbsp; different proteins or peptides at the same time in the same sample. Invitrogen, which offers more than 200 assays based on xMAP technology, also has a large number of new multiplexed assays in its product development pipeline to expand the number of targets accessible to scientists, according to the company.

UVP will cover the promotion and supply of Nonlinear Dynamics’ SameSpots analysis software through its direct sales force and worldwide distributor network.

The agreement follows the recent release of the BioSpectrum 800 imaging system from UVP. It has been developed specifically to support the image capture requirements of 2-D gel electrophoresis and difference gel electrophoresis applications. SameSpots software will be offered alongside the BioSpectrum 800 system and to UVP’s existing worldwide customer base.

NanoString Technologies placed the final early-access nCounter analysis systems prior to the launch of the commercial system at the "ABRF2008” meeting in Salt Lake City this week. The two systems will be placed in the labs of Lisa White, Ph.D., at Baylor College of Medicine, Microarray Core Facility, and in the Oncogenomics Core Facility run by Toumy Guettouche, Ph.D., at the University of Miami Sylvester Comprehensive Cancer Center.

The nCounter Analysis System uses a& nbsp; digital technology that enables direct multiplexed measurement of gene expression and offers high levels of sensitivity and precision including detection of fractional fold-change differences, a feature unique to this platform, according to NanoString. The technology also uses molecular barcodes and single molecule imaging to detect and count hundreds of unique transcripts in a single reaction, reports the company.

The system is comprised of a fully automated sample-prep station, a digital analyzer, the CodeSet (molecular barcodes), and the reagents needed to perform the analysis.

EMD Chemicals, a subsidiary of Merck KGaA, and Epitome Biosystems, report that EMD launched WideScreen™ EpiTag™ ERK Pathway Assays, the first wave of bead-based, multiplex assays using EpiTag™ technology licensed from Epitome.

"The new line of assays will enable researchers to make quantitative, highly multiplexed measurements of important cell targets, greatly facilitating drug discovery efforts,” claims Lisa Johnson, Novagen and Calbiochem Business Unit Manager with EMD.

Enigma Diagnostics inked license agreements with Applera covering a real-time instrument patent and an application kit.

The real-time instrument patent license deal covers Enigma’s current and pipeline instrument platforms of fully automated, real-time thermal cyclers across the commercial market sectors of research and applied markets. This agreement also provides Enigma with an option for a license in clinical diagnostics.

The application kit license agreement covers a portfolio of patents covering reverse transcription-based methods, real-time PCR detection process, and 5' nuclease assays and compositions for use in fields excluding human diagnostics.

Clinical Data and Affymetrix signed a marketing agreement for Affymetrix’ drug metabolizing enzymes and transporter (DMET) early access solution. Cogenics and Epidauros Biotechnologie, both subsidiaries of Clinical Data, will offer the DMET services on a global basis, with limited exclusivity in Europe.

The DMET early access solution provides a method for assaying the genetics of drug metabolism, according to Affymetrix.

Erasmus Medical Center purchased Infinium HD (High-Density) Human610-Quad BeadChips from Illumina for the analysis of 10,000 samples and a third scanner to support the Generation R Study.

"In our human genotyping facility, sample throughput is critical to our success,” says Andre Uitterlinden, of the department of Internal Medicine at Erasmus Medical Center. "With the Human610-Quad BeadChip we can increase our throughput four-fold, plus gain access to content only found on Illumina arrays.”

The Generation R Study focuses on identifying early environmental and genetic causes in four primary areas: growth and physical development, behavioral and cognitive development, diseases in childhood, and health and healthcare for pregnant women and children. It is a population-based prospective cohort study of almost 10,000 children and their parents. The Erasmus Medical Center, the Dutch government, and other industry partners is funding the Generation R Study.

GlobalStem is partnering with BI Biotech India to provide human and mouse embryonic stem cell research products to the Indian scientific community. This includes the supply of GlobalStem’s cell lines, qualified media and sera, supplements, and research tools.

"Expanding into India is an important strategic move for us,” points out Vin Singh, vp worldwide business of GlobalStem. "The embryonic stem cell research market is rapidly growing, and we have the expertise and experience to provide scientists with tools they need to advance their research.”

Crucell reports a nonexclusive STAR® research license agreement with Korean-based ISU ABXIS. The rights cover both a research evaluation of this technology for the production of recombinant proteins and an option for a commercial license.

STAR is a production platform that is used for recombinant human antibodies and proteins. It can also be used to produce antibodies and proteins on mammalian cell lines. The technology contains genetic elements called STAR elements that enable stable and high-yield gene expression important to recombinant antibody and protein production in mammalian cells, according to Crucell.

Celltrion& nbsp;and CSL& nbsp;signed an agreement for the development and supply of CSL 360, a mAb for the treatment of acute myeloid leukemia. CSL is currently conducting Phase I trials for the candidate in Australia.

Celltrion will provide process development expertise and supply clinical and commercial material to support the clinical the ongoing development program and the possible future commercialization of the product. The firms say that there is potential for a longer term strategic manufacturing relationship as well.

NanoString Technologies signed an early-access agreement for the nCounter Analysis System for digital gene expression with the Genome Sequencing Center at the Washington University School of Medicine.

Washington University will use the technology first for a large-scale diabetes study to validate the expression of over 50 genes across 15 tissues in over 900 samples. "If we wanted to perform this study with qPCR it would have been over 55,000 individual reactions,” comments James Cheverud, Ph.D., who will lead the research. "We can complete the entire study on the nCounter Analysis System in about 900 reactions and in a fraction of the time.”

The nCounter Analysis System uses digital technology that enables direct multiplexed measurement of gene expression. It offers high levels of sensitivity and precision including detection of fractional fold change differences, according to NanoString. The technology uses molecular barcodes and single molecule imaging to detect and count hundreds of unique transcripts in a single reaction.

Applied Biosystems and Mettler Toledo say they have developed an integrated solution that they expect to improve the workflow and transfer of information in life science and chemistry laboratories. Company officials explain that their collaborative project will allow researchers to exchange data between precision instruments and laboratory information management systems.

This solution integrates Applied Biosystems’ SQL*LIMS® laboratory information management system with Metler Toledo’s LabX data management software.& nbsp; Applied Biosystems will sell, install, and maintain SQL*LIMS® systems and implement the integration of LabX software.

Affymetrix reports that the University of Ottawa Heart Institute (UOHI) will use its Genome-Wide Human SNP Array 6.0 for its whole-genome association study on coronary artery disease.

Over the next three years, researchers at UOHI will have access to the array to screen the DNA of more than 12,000 individuals. The scientists hope to not only confirm their previous findings but to also identify new associations that can be used to develop personalized treatments.

Invitrogen inked an exclusive license to cell proliferation assays based on click chemistry from Harvard University. Click-iT™ uses a catalyst to click together chemical groups not normally found in biology, explains Invitrogen.

"Click chemistry permits the labeling and detection of biological events that were previously impossible using standard methods,” says Augie Sick, vp and general manager of Invitrogen’s cellular analysis business unit.

The advancement in Harvard’s technology allows researchers to examine cell proliferation in parallel with other biomarkers, Invitrogen adds.

The company is assembling a portfolio of complementary intellectual property, Sick continues. Invitrogen has commercial licenses from the The Scripps Research Institute, University of California, Berkeley, NIH, and the California Institute of Technology.

Millipore and Rohm and Haas entered into a joint development agreement to create high-performance chromatography products that are used to manufacture biologic drugs.Millipore will gain exclusive access to new, customized chromatography media developed under the agreement.

The companies say the strength of the partnership lies in combining Millipore’s biopharmaceutical manufacturing expertise with Rohm and Haas’ knowledge of ion exchange resins, polymer chemistry, and manufacturing.

The Coriell Institute for Medical Research reports that it will use the Affymetrix Genome-Wide Human SNP Array 6.0 for a series of whole-genome association studies for the Delaware Valley Personalized Medicine Project (DVPMP).

Scientists expect that the Affymetrix platform will help them identify genes that affect the risk of developing diseases like cancer, heart and blood vessel diseases, as well as lung disease. The research team at Coriell will use the Affymetrix technology to conduct whole-genome association studies on DNA samples from 10,000 individuals initially, with the ultimate goal of reaching 100,000 participants.

Compendia Bioscience licensed Oncomine™, the company’s compendium of oncology gene expression profiles and analysis tools, to AstraZeneca. The firm will conduct a year-long pilot to evaluate the long-term role of this product in its cancer research programs.

This licensing agreement gives AstraZeneca access to Oncomine Concepts Edition (OCM), a value-added product extension of Oncomine that reportedly combines nearly 7,000 proprietary cancer gene signatures with 11,000 gene, protein, drug, and pathway signatures collected from the literature and other public sources.

Diagnos has agreed to provide services to Miraculins for the development of its cancer diagnostic discovery programs.

Diagnos will help interpret data generated during the biomarker discovery and validation process. The company will leverage its technology to develop and test multiple algorithms with the objective of producing a diagnostic test with the highest possible sensitivity and specificity, resulting in fewer false positives and false negatives.

Abeome launched a stem-cell mAb for distribution through Millipore. Under the agreement, Millipore is granted an exclusive, worldwide license to market and distribute the antibody for research use.

This initial antibody was developed by Abeome in collaboration with Novocell. The antibody’s target is a cell surface protein that may prove to be a unique and important antigen, according to Abeome. The target protein appears to be present on five human embryonic cell lines but does not appear to be expressed on most differentiated cell types or common feeder cells.

Scientists will use this antibody to help identify specific cell types that may be important in cancer therapeutic and diagnostic research.

NextGen Sciences entered into a collaboration with the Harvard Institute of Proteomics, initiating the start of NextGen’ Center of Excellence Program. NextGen will integrate its information management software (orchestratorIMS™) with Harvard’s clone database to develop advanced automated methods for multiconstruct design.& nbsp;

NextGen states that the company’s Center of Excellence Program provides academic institutes with access to its automated platforms and software systems to advance the productivity and efficiency of their research initiatives. As part of the program, the institutions will work in partnership with NextGen Sciences to inform the codevelopment of new product and technology enhancements.

The Leipzig, Germany-based Max Planck Institute for Evolutionary Anthropology purchased its second Genome Sequencer FLX (GS FLX) system from 454 Life Sciences, a part of Roche Applied Science. The institute chose to add to its previous Genome Sequencer System, which was initially purchased as a GS 20 in August 2006 and upgraded to a GS FLX in 2007. With the acquisition of the second instrument, the Max Planck Institute reports that its total 454 Sequencing capacity is now 400 million bases per day.

Based in the lab of Svante Paabo,& nbsp; Ph.D., director of the Department of Evolutionary Anthropology at the institute, the two GS FLX instruments will be used to sequence the genome of the Bonobo, a great ape closely related to humans. The Bonobo genome sequence will allow scientists to gauge the fine-scale evolution of the Chimpanzee genome in the same way as the Neanderthal genome, which they hope will provide insight into the evolution of the human genome.

PerkinElmer agreed to supply Nonlinear Dynamics’ Progenesis SameSpots with its Geliance 1000 imaging system, which was launched at the recent HUPO 6th Annual Congress.

"Nonlinear Dynamics and PerkinElmer have addressed a key challenge in proteomics, the ability to run enough samples for reliable conclusions with a 2-D-based solution. Proteomics now has the potential to achieve even more using this key technique,” claims Will Dracup, CEO of Nonlinear Dynamics.

DNAPrint® Genomics entered into a sales and marketing agreement with Beckman Coulter regarding DNAPrint’s proprietary AncestryByDNA™ and DNAWitness™ technologies, utilizing Beckman Coulter's SNPStream® genotyping systems."As a primary focus, DNAPrint can provide detectives with the new DNAWitness descriptor kit that their own crime labs can run,” says Richard Gabriel, CEO and president of DNAPrint Genomics.DNAPrint’s Ancestry DNA technology can determine genetic ancestry and provide law enforcement a "fuzzy photograph” of an individual from a DNA sample, adds Gabriel. Forensic investigators can use the technology to acquire a description of a suspect or to help them identify unknown victims. "Crime labs or law enforcement agencies can purchase the SNPStream from either company. It is similar to the pharmaceutical product called PharmaID™, which is a high performance technology of validated DNA testing and identification used to predict drug reactions in certain population groups,” continues Gabriel. "Forensics, however, is our primary focus.”

Proxeon and Bruker Daltonics entered into an OEM agreement. Bruker will sell Proxeon’s nanoscale chromatography system, EASY-nLC™, initially beginning in Europe.

"Combining our range of proteomics MS products with the novel nanoLC system from Proxeon takes proteomics analysis to a new level in terms of performance, reliability, and ease-of-use, answering the increasing demand for integrated solutions,” says Alexander Harder, director of product management of Bruker Daltonik.

RXi Pharmaceuticals has exclusively licensed to second-generation RNAi technology from Invitrogen for designated target genes in all human therapeutic categories.

Invitrogen’s patent applications that are part of this agreement cover Stealth™ and other technologies related to enhanced configurations of chemically modified double-stranded RNA.

Cogenics has adopted NuGEN’s Technologies’ Ovation® systems for RNA amplification and target preparation using Affymetrix GeneChip® 3’ expression arrays.

The Ovation Systems’ family of RNA amplification and labeling products were developed for gene-expression profiling and signature discovery using sample types such as as whole blood, fresh tissue biopsies, laser-captured micro-dissected cells, sorted cells, and FFPE tissue.

Cogenics will offer target preparation services using three Ovation Systems including Ovation Whole Blood Solution, WT-Ovation Pico System, and WT-Ovation FFPE System.

The University of Pittsburgh Medical School will serve as the alpha test site for WaferGen’s SmartChip™ Real-Time PCR System. The product is reportedly the first whole genome, high-throughput gene expression real-time PCR.

The research team at the Univ. of Pittsburgh will leverage this technology to support their identification of therapeutically-relevant biomarkers in the areas of chronic obstructive pulmonary disease (COPD) and lung cancer.

Thermo Fisher Scientific entered into a strategic partnership with Phytronix Technologies for the use of Laser Diode Thermal Desorption (LDTD) technology. Thermo says that LDTD will enhance its TSQ Quantum™ LC/MS product portfolio by offering ultra fast sample analysis for quantitative and qualitative applications in high-throughput drug discovery and development, food safety, and environmental applications.

The LDTD technology increases the speed of analysis of compounds by 20 to 100 times compared to established techniques based on liquid chromatography with mass spectrometry, claims Thermo. Pharmacokinetic studies using LDTD technology can be performed in less than 10 minutes and enzyme inhibition assays in 18 minutes, compared to 10 hours presently required with LC-MS techniques, the Thermo company continues.

Metabolon signed a contract to support the U.S. Army Medical Research Institute of Infectious Disease (USAMRIID) in its investigation into he AVA anthrax vaccine.

This is the only FDA-licensed anthrax vaccine for humans. The company’s metabolomics platform will be used to study the biochemical profiles of humans given the vaccine.

"This collaboration represents the first large-scale metabolomics study of human subjects given a vaccine,” notes Mike Milburn, Metabolon's CSO.& nbsp; "This type of comprehensive biochemical profiling will help USAMRIID better understand the vaccine’s safety, efficacy, and mechanism of action.”

Illumina will process over 6,500 samples for the Type 1 Diabetes Genetics Consortium (T1DGC) via its FastTrack Genotyping Services. T1DGC is attempting to identify genes that influence an individual’s risk for developing type 1 diabetes.

"Illumina’s technology meets the University of Virginia’s needs in terms of data quality, call rates, and genomic coverage, and we think that provides us with the most potential for discovering variants linked to complex disease like type 1 diabetes,” says Stephen Rich, Ph.D., principal investigator from the University of Virginia and chair of the T1DGC steering committee.

Daiichi-Sankyo purchased the Corning® Epic® System for drug discovery operations at its Kasai R& amp;D Center in Tokyo. Corning reports that this purchase marks the entry of its microplate-based, label-free drug screening platform into the Japanese pharmaceutical market.

The Epic System is based on optical biosensor technology. The system performs biochemical and cell-based drug discovery applications. It also enables the observation of direct biological interactions not previously detectable in high-throughput applications, according to Corning.