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Pharmaceutical industry

Aclara BioSciences Readies Pilot Manufacturing Plant for LabCard Array Chips

Strategic Insights

— 2 min read

Aclara BioSciences is preparing its pilot manufacturing plant to supply LabCard array chips to marketing partners Packard BioScience and Cellomics, Inc. The LabCard device enables rapid, parallel processing of large numbers of samples, using minute volumes of expensive or rare reagents. Commercialization of the Oasis LabCard chips is expected to occur in late 2000, targeting the drug screening market.

Key Takeaways:

  • Aclara BioSciences is developing the pilot manufacturing plant to produce LabCard array chips for its marketing partners, Packard BioScience and Cellomics, Inc.
  • The LabCard device integrates sample processing and analysis, allowing for rapid processing of large numbers of samples with minimal reagents.
  • Commercialization of the Oasis LabCard chips is slated for late 2000, focusing on the drug screening market.
  • The LabCard chips are designed for compatibility with existing commercial instrumentation, including Packard equipment, to facilitate rapid market adoption.
  • Aclara has two strategic partnerships with PE Biosystems to develop systems for genomics and high-throughput screening, with a debuting target of the first half of 2001.
  • The GeneMate system will integrate Aclara's LabCard array chips and eTag chemistries with PE Biosystems' instrumentation and Invader technology.
  • Aclara plans to develop a miniature platform, CellChip, that applies LabCard array chips to Cellomics' live-cell assay technology, targeting various applications including drug discovery and basic bioscience.
  • The CellChip system combines Aclara's LabCard with Cellomics' live-cell assay technology to control biological systems precisely, enabling research not previously possible.
  • The platform aims to control the chemical and biological environment around each cell domain independently, allowing for advanced cellular assemblies and reduced reagent consumption.
  • Aclara and Cellomics believe the combination of their technologies will generate large amounts of parallel high-throughput primary screening data and provide for higher resolution, multiplexed secondary assays.
  • The expected markets for the CellChip system include drug discovery, diagnostics, environmental testing, and basic biomedical research.

Statistics:

  • 2000: Commercialization of the Oasis LabCard chips is expected to occur in late.
  • 2001: The GeneMate system, integrating Aclara's LabCard array chips and PE Biosystems' instrumentation, will debut in the first half.
  • The company plans to develop a miniature platform, CellChip, that applies LabCard array chips to Cellomics' live-cell assay technology.
  • 2000: Aclara BioSciences has two strategic partnerships with PE Biosystems to develop systems for genomics and high-throughput screening.

Sources:

  • Aclara BioSciences (3906 Trust Way, Hayward, CA 94545; Tel: 650/210-1200)
  • Packard BioScience (800 Research Pkwy., Meriden, CT 06450; Tel: 203/238-2351)
  • Cellomics, Inc. (635 William Pitt Way, Pittsburgh, PA 15238; Tel: 412/826-3600, Fax: 412/826-3850)
  • PE Biosystems (850 Lincoln Center Dr., Foster City, CA 94404; Tel: 650/638-5800, Fax: 650/638-5884)
  • Third Wave Technologies (502 South Rosa Rd., Madison, WI 53719; Tel: 608/273-8933, Fax: 608/273-8618)

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