UPPSALA, Sweden and BILLERICA, Mass., March 18, 2002 (PRIMEZONE) -- Biacore International AB (SSE:BCOR) (Nasdaq:BCOR) and Bruker Daltonics Inc. (Nasdaq:BDAL) today announced that their recent collaboration to develop and commercialize a combined SPR-MS technology platform has already achieved two significant milestones.
Research material has now been published that demonstrates the principle of combining Biacore's Surface Plasmon Resonance with Bruker Daltonics' Mass Spectrometry in a model system. In addition, the first steps have been taken to integrate SPR-derived functional information with mass spectrometric identification and characterization data in new ProteinScape software.
Scientists working from both companies have already successfully demonstrated the principle of the combined technique of SPR-MS using a model system. Their work is summarized in a Biacore Application Note and Scientific Poster, both of which will be on display at this year's PITTCON conference in New Orleans, March 17-22.
In addition, the Bruker Daltonics stand (Pittcon Stand no. 965) will feature a demo version of the new ProteinScape software. This bioinformatics software package, for comprehensive proteomics data warehousing and analysis, was developed in collaboration with leading pharmaceutical and proteomics research companies. The new version has been updated as part of the collaboration to uniquely include Biacore's functional SPR data on protein-protein or protein-ligand interactions, as well as Bruker Daltonics' MS data on protein identification and characterization.
Clive Seymour, Vice President and Head of Life Science Research Business Unit at Biacore, commented, "SPR's high quality kinetic and affinity data of known and suspected interactants, confirmed by MS, has huge potential benefits for rational or smart proteomics research. The ability of a proteomics database based on MS data, 2D data and SPR data to aid the user in determining which proteins are of the most immediate interest will create a major step forward in proteomics research."
Dr. Michael Schubert, European Director of R&D at Bruker Daltonics, said: "We are delighted to have already achieved this important first step in commercializing the combined technique of SPR-MS. We envisage that the technology platform will help pharmaceutical and biotech companies fast track targets for validation and enable more rapid development of therapeutic compounds."
Cautionary Statement
This press release contains certain forward-looking statements within the meaning of the United States Private Securities Litigation Reform Act of 1995, which, by their nature, involve risk and uncertainty because they relate to events and depend on circumstances that will occur in the future. There are a number of factors that could cause actual results and developments to differ materially from those expressed or implied by these forward-looking statements.
About Biacore
Biacore is a global market leader in Surface Plasmon Resonance (SPR) based technology with its own sales operations in the U.S., across Europe, in Japan, Australia and New Zealand. The technology is protected by a strong patent portfolio. Target groups consist primarily of medical and life science research laboratories and pharmaceutical and biotechnology companies all over the world. Biacore focuses on drug discovery as the prime area for future growth. The company currently has seven systems on the market with its BIACORE(r)S51 for applications downstream of high-throughput screening (HTS) including rapid characterization of HTS hits and comprehensive preclinical evaluation of lead compounds. BIACORE(r)3000 offers specific applications in drug discovery upstream of HTS. A new SPR array system is currently under development.
Based in Uppsala, Sweden, the company is listed on Stockholmsborsen and Nasdaq in the U.S. In 2001 the company had sales of SEK 544 million and an operating income of SEK 64 million.
Further information on Biacore can be found on the web: www.biacore.com
Address and phone: Biacore International AB Rapsgatan 7, SE-754 50 Uppsala, SWEDEN Phone: +46 (0)18-675700 Fax: +46 (0)18-150110 e-mail: info@biacore.com
About Bruker Daltonics
Bruker Daltonics is a leading provider of innovative life science tools based on mass spectrometry. Its substantial investment in research and development allows it to design, manufacture and market a broad array of products intended to meet the rapidly growing needs of a diverse customer base, including pharmaceutical companies, biotechnology companies, proteomics companies, molecular diagnostics companies, academic institutions and government agencies. Bruker Daltonics has diverse technology platforms that integrate automated sample preparation and clean-up, advanced front-end AnchorChiptm MALDI targets and API source technology with cutting-edge proprietary MALDI-TOF, MALDI-TOF/TOF, ESI-TOF, ESI-Q-q-TOF, ion trap and FTMS mass analyzers, as well as analysis and bioinformatics software. Bruker Daltonics is also a worldwide leader in supplying mass spectrometry-based systems for substance detection and pathogen identification in security, defence and anti-terrorism applications. Further information is available at: www.bdal.com
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