POWAY, Calif., Feb. 7, 2012 (GLOBE NEWSWIRE) -- Brooks Life Science Systems, a division of Brooks Automation, Inc. (Nasdaq:BRKS), a leading worldwide provider of automation solutions for compound and biological sample storage and management, today announced the initiation of a technology development and commercialization partnership with The Scripps Research Institute (Scripps Research).
The cornerstone of this partnership will be an exclusive licensing agreement to jointly complete the development of a microplate imaging system created by Scripps Research and to enable Brooks Life Science Systems to manufacture and commercialize this imaging system. The new Brooks Plate AuditorTM will be used by pharmaceutical and biotech compound management and high throughput screening (HTS) groups to evaluate the quality of the microplate-based compound samples prepared for use in drug discovery HTS activities.
John Lillig, SVP and Managing Director of Brooks Life Science Systems, commented, "As the leading global provider of automated compound and biological sample management systems to pharmaceutical and biotech companies, Brooks is very excited to be working together with the Scripps Research's Compound Management Group on the development and the commercialization of this innovative and very useful compound quality assurance technology. With over 350 million samples stored in Brooks Sample Management Systems around the world, the new Plate Auditor will complement our Brooks Tube Auditor and be a valuable new quality enhancement tool for our compound management customers. We are pleased to be exhibiting the Plate Auditor at the Society for Laboratory Automation and Screening conference in San Diego on February 6 and 7, 2012."
"This technology was developed to address an unmet need in our compound management operation—the automated assessment of compound quality in plate-based HTS libraries," said Peter Hodder, PhD, Senior Director and Head of Lead Identification at the Florida campus of Scripps Research. "Both HTS and compound management staff now consider it indispensable for routine quality control of cherry-picked samples as well as periodic monitoring of sample quality across all our screening libraries."
Scripps Research presented a podium presentation on the technology entitled "A Novel Platform to Improve HTS Compound Management Operations" at the Society for Laboratory Automation and Screening conference in San Diego, California, on Monday, February 6, 2012. In addition, they will present "The Impact of Rapid, Automated Analysis of HTS Library Sample Quality" at the European Lab Automation Conference in Hamburg, Germany, on Wednesday, May 30, 2012.
About The Scripps Research Institute
The Scripps Research Institute is one of the world's largest independent, non-profit biomedical research organizations. Scripps Research is internationally recognized for its discoveries in immunology, molecular and cellular biology, chemistry, neuroscience, and vaccine development, as well as for its insights into autoimmune, cardiovascular, and infectious disease. Headquartered in La Jolla, California, the institute also includes a campus in Jupiter, Florida, where scientists focus on drug discovery and technology development in addition to basic biomedical science. Scripps Research currently employs about 3,000 scientists, staff, postdoctoral fellows, and graduate students on its two campuses. The institute's graduate program, which awards Ph.D. degrees in biology and chemistry, is ranked among the top ten such programs in the nation. For more information, see www.scripps.edu.
About Brooks Life Science Systems
Brooks Life Science Systems is a leading worldwide provider of automation and related solutions for compound and biological sample storage, management and analysis. The Company combines the specialist expertise of industry-renowned brands, REMP®, Nexus, and RTS, together with the extensive R&D and global service capabilities of Brooks Automation.
Brooks Life Science Systems partners with its customers, working as a trusted advisor from specification, to system installation and ongoing service and customer support. From standardized bench top systems to custom installations, Brooks has the largest installed base of automated storage systems and support network in the Life Sciences industry, with more than 180 systems across the globe including at the top 20 pharmaceutical and biotechnology companies.
As pioneers in automated storage, Brooks Life Science Systems continually focuses its R&D activities on providing innovative solutions to maintaining sample integrity and security during sample storage, handling, analyzing and processing applications. Solutions provided by Brooks are transforming the productivity and streamlining the workflow of scientists across a broad range of life science applications, including drug discovery and biobanking.
Brooks Life Science Systems is a division of Brooks Automation, Inc (Nasdaq:BRKS), a public listed company with headquarters in North America and operations throughout North America, Europe and Asia. For more information, please visit www.brooks.com.
About Brooks Automation, Inc.
Brooks is a leading worldwide provider of automation, vacuum and instrumentation solutions for multiple markets including semiconductor manufacturing, life sciences, and clean energy. The Company's technologies, engineering competencies and global service capabilities provide customers speed to market, and ensure high uptime and rapid response, which equate to superior value in their mission-critical controlled environments. Since 1978, Brooks has been a leading partner to the global semiconductor manufacturing market and through product development initiatives and strategic business acquisitions; the Company has expanded its reach to meet the needs of customers in the life sciences industry, analytical & research markets and clean energy solutions. Brooks is headquartered in Chelmsford, MA, with direct operations in North America, Europe and Asia. For more information, please visit www.brooks.com.
"Safe Harbor Statement" under Section 21E of the Securities Exchange Act of 1934
Some statements in this release are forward-looking statements made under Section 21E of the Securities Exchange Act of 1934. These statements are neither promises nor guarantees but involve risks and uncertainties, both known and unknown, that could cause Brooks' financial and business results to differ materially from our expectations. They are based on the facts known to management at the time they are made. These forward-looking statements include statements regarding future adoption of new technologies and our ability to develop further our business. Factors that could cause results to differ from our expectations and other risks that we have identified are described in our filings with the Securities and Exchange Commission, including but not limited to our Annual Report on Form 10-K, current reports on Form 8-K and our quarterly reports on Form 10-Q. As a result we can provide no assurance that our future results will not be materially different from those projected. Brooks expressly disclaims any obligation or undertaking to release publicly any updates or revisions to any such statement to reflect any change in our expectations or any change in events, conditions or circumstances on which any such statement is based. Brooks undertakes no obligation to update the information contained in this press release.