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Tuesday, March 2nd, 2010

ASCO Light Weight Miniature Solenoid Valve Introduced with Extended Life and Higher Flow

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FLORHAM PARK, NEW JERSEY, USA, March 2, 2010 — ASCO Numatics, the world’s leading manufacturer of comprehensive fluid automation, flow control, and pneumatics solutions, has introduced the ASCO 411 Series miniature solenoid valve that offers up to twice the life of competing products plus higher flow rate performance. The new valve is ideal for applications in pharmaceutical, medical, analytical, and instrumentation products.

“Now, original equipment manufacturers (OEM) can receive the benefits of longer life, smaller size, lighter weight, higher flow, and lower power consumption — all in one miniature solenoid valve,” said Robert W. Kemple, Jr., Executive Vice President, Sales and Marketing - Americas, ASCO Numatics. “The 411 Series dramatically reduces the design tradeoffs and compromises engineers must make in applying valves to their products.”

The 411 Series’ unique plunger design significantly reduces wear on the poppet and is resistant to internal elastomer swelling that can disrupt performance. The new valve has been tested to exceed 500 million cycles in normal operating conditions, making it the longest-lived, most reliable product of its kind on the market.

ASCO has increased the valve’s flow rate by 12% to 15% over previous models, and the maximum operating pressure differential has been improved. “These factors will enable engineers to design products with greater operating speeds, higher pressures, and smaller volumes,” said Kemple.411

The new valve family incorporates a smaller, lighter weight plastic body that achieves a 12% to 15% overall weight reduction when compared to stainless steel and brass-bodied valves. This makes the 411 Series a good choice for miniaturized and portable medical devices and pharmaceutical products. Lower power consumption means the valve also is attractive for use in battery-powered applications. In addition, it is the only miniature solenoid valve that is fully compliant with RoHS regulations.

“The 411 Series is assembled and tested in a specially built Class 100 cleanroom that is dedicated to miniature solenoid valve production,” Kemple said. “Our valve’s exceptional reliability and its flexibility to address a wide range of specifications and operating characteristics provide the OEM with the widest variety of design options.”

The 411 Series can be purchased from ASCO distributors or directly from the company. Many of the valve’s configurations are available through the ASCO Today 24-hour or ASCO 5-day shipping programs.

For more information, contact ASCO at 800-972-ASCO, by e-mail at info-valve@asco.com, or visit www.ascovalve.com.

About ASCO Numatics
ASCO Numatics, formed by the merger of ASCO and Numatics, is a business unit of Emerson Industrial Automation. ASCO Numatics offers comprehensive fluid automation solutions, flow control and pneumatics for a wide range of industry-focused applications.  The ASCO Numatics product line in North America consists of more than 50,000 valves, an extensive selection of air preparation equipment, and a full line of actuation products.  ASCO products include solenoid pilot valves, angle body piston valves, linear indicators, redundant control systems, and pressure sensors. The Numatics line covers valve manifolds, cylinders, grippers, filters, regulators, and lubricators.  For more information about ASCO Numatics products, visit www.asconumatics.com.

About Emerson
Emerson (NYSE:EMR), based in St. Louis, Missouri (USA), is a global leader in bringing technology and engineering together to provide innovative solutions to customers through its network power, process management, industrial automation, climate technologies, and appliance and tools businesses.  Emerson’s sales in fiscal 2009 were $20.9 billion.  The company is ranked 94th on the Fortune 500 list of America’s largest companies. For more information, visit www.Emerson.com.

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Public Relations contact, Boston, Don Goncalves, dgoncalves@tizinc.com, 781-793-9380, for Tiziani Whitmyre Inc., http://www.tizinc.com/public-relations 

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Posted in Biosciences, Health/Medical, Manufacturing |


Thursday, February 18th, 2010

RainDance and Life Technologies Co-Market Microdroplet PCR-Based Enrichment for Targeted Resequencing on the SOLiD System

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LEXINGTON, MASSACHUSETTS, U.S.A., February 18, 2010 – RainDance Technologies, Inc., a leading provider of innovative microdroplet-based solutions for human health and disease research, and Applied Biosystems, part of Life Technologies Corporation (NASDAQ: LIFE), announced today they have entered into a strategic agreement to co-market the first solution that combines microdroplet PCR-based sequence enrichment with next-generation sequencing.

Under the terms of the agreement, the companies will co-market RainDance’s RDT 1000 Sequence Enrichment Solution with Applied Biosystems SOLiD™ System, a next-generation high-throughput DNA analysis platform. The integration of the two technologies will enable researchers to perform highly efficient, large-scale targeted sequencing studies with the superior quality and accuracy of results associated with PCR-based DNA amplification. In addition, the companies will continue to collaborate on the application of RainDance products in the SOLiD System sequencing workflow.

“PCR is the gold standard for sequence enrichment and we’re pleased to provide a microdroplet PCR-based solution that works seamlessly with the SOLiD System,” said Christopher McNary, Chief Commercial Officer, RainDance Technologies. “Now researchers can perform high-resolution analysis of genetic variation by combining the high degree of sample uniformity and reduced selection bias of PCR-based enrichment with the greater accuracy, efficiency, and throughput of the SOLiD platform. Using RainDance Technologies, researchers will be able to detect substantially higher numbers of variants in the targeted sequences than have been demonstrated with alternative approaches using less precise capture methods,” McNary said.

“By partnering with RainDance Technologies, we can provide scientists with a sequence enrichment solution that leverages the quality and accuracy of PCR, enabling studies of hundreds to thousands of samples — with the high degree of accuracy associated with SOLiD System technology,” said Shaf Yousaf, President, Genomic Analysis, Life Technologies.

TGEN Validates RainDance-SOLiD Solution

The Translational Genomics Research Institute (TGEN) of Phoenix, Arizona, was among the first to couple the RainDance Sequence Enrichment Solution with ABI’s SOLiD sequencing technology. TGEN utilized the integrated workflow to identify root cause mutations in disease candidate genes and pathways.

“The RainDance and SOLiD technology worked smoothly and offered superb coverage and accuracy,” said John Carpten, Ph.D., Senior Investigator and Director, Integrated Cancer Genomics Division, TGEN. Dr. Carpten’s work is focused in search of germline variants associated with cancer risk, and somatic mutations occurring in both solid tumors and hematological malignancies.

“We have successfully interrogated specific regions of the genome and identified novel somatic mutations in normal/tumor pairs within a relatively short period of time. We are looking forward to expanding our use of both the RainDance and SOLiD platforms to other large-scale resequencing projects,” said Dr. Carpten. “Our hope is that these tools will allow us to efficiently interrogate specific regions of the cancer genome, which in turn will ultimately lead to an increased understanding of cancer development. Our ultimate hope is translation of these findings for improved patient care.”

About RainDance Technologies, Inc.
RainDance’s proprietary technology platform delivers exquisite sensitivity and data quality that inspires scientists, researchers and clinicians to rethink the way they design experiments, approach discovery, or conduct clinical diagnostics. The core RainStorm™ technology empowers customers to conduct de novo science in an ultra-high throughput, simple, flexible, and low-cost manner. RainDance’s commercial products include instruments and high-value consumables and reagents for sequence enrichment for next-generation sequencing, ultra-deep sequencing, and methylation analysis. RainDance sells directly in the U.S. and in Europe, and is building distribution networks in Europe and Asia-Pacific. RainDance Technologies has approximately 70 employees worldwide. For more information, please visit www.raindancetech.com.

RainStorm is a trademark of RainDance Technologies, Inc.

About Life Technologies
Life Technologies Corporation (NASDAQ: LIFE) is a global biotechnology tools company dedicated to improving the human condition. Our systems, consumables and services enable researchers to accelerate scientific exploration, driving to discoveries and developments that make life even better. Life Technologies customers do their work across the biological spectrum, working to advance personalized medicine, regenerative science, molecular diagnostics, agricultural and environmental research, and 21st century forensics. Life Technologies had sales of more than $3 billion in 2008, employs approximately 9,500 people, has a presence in more than 100 countries, and possesses a rapidly growing intellectual property estate of approximately 3,600 patents and exclusive licenses. Life Technologies was created by the combination of Invitrogen Corporation and Applied Biosystems Inc. For more information on how we are making a difference please visit our website: www.lifetechnologies.com. Follow Life Technologies on Twitter @LIFECorporation and on Facebook.

Life Technologies’ Safe Harbor Statement
This press release includes forward-looking statements about Life Technologies’ anticipated results that involve risks and uncertainties. Some of the information contained in this press release, including, but not limited to, statements as to industry trends and Life Technologies’ plans, objectives, expectations and strategy for its business, contains forward-looking statements that are subject to risks and uncertainties that could cause actual results or events to differ materially from those expressed or implied by such forward-looking statements. Any statements that are not statements of historical fact are forward-looking statements. When used, the words “believe,” “plan,” “intend,” “anticipate,” “target,” “estimate,” “expect” and the like, and/or future tense or conditional constructions (“will,” “may,” “could,” “should,” etc.), or similar expressions, identify certain of these forward-looking statements. Important factors which could cause actual results to differ materially from those in the forward-looking statements are detailed in filings made by Life Technologies with the Securities and Exchange Commission. Life Technologies undertakes no obligation to update or revise any such forward-looking statements to reflect subsequent events or circumstances.

For Research Use Only. Not for use in diagnostic procedures.
Copyright 2009. Life Technologies Corporation. All rights reserved. AB (Design), and Applied Biosystems are registered trademarks and SOLiD are trademarks of Life Technologies or its subsidiaries in the United States and/or certain other countries

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Posted in Biosciences |


Wednesday, February 3rd, 2010

RainDance Technologies Appoints S. Roopom Banerjee as President and Chief Executive Officer

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Disruptive platform technology enables greater speed, sensitivity, and simplicity for single-cell analysis to accelerate breakthroughs in human health and disease research and diagnostics

LEXINGTON, MASSACHUSETTS, U.S.A – February 3, 2010 – RainDance Technologies Inc., the leader in sequence enrichment and single-cell analysis, today announced that the Board of Directors has appointed Sirshendu Roopom Banerjee as President and Chief Executive Officer. RainDance Technologies provides innovative microdroplet-based solutions that accelerate research and development for human healthcare and industrial markets. The company provides resolution of molecular, biological, and physiological events from large population samples to unprecedented single-cell analysis, all inside a contained microenvironment that enables quantification, single-molecule sensitivity, and preserves sample integrity with no bias or contamination.

About the appointment, RainDance Director and Managing Partner of Mohr Davidow Ventures Bill Ericson said, “Roopom brings a depth of knowledge and is highly respected in the life science tools and diagnostics industry. Roopom’s leadership will enable us to further accelerate the momentum built over the last few years in the adoption of our highly innovative RainStorm™ technology, as well as sharpen our focus on new product and technology opportunities in the fields of sequence enrichment and single-cell analysis.”

Most recently, Mr. Banerjee was a Director of Healthcare Investment Banking at Leerink Swann, where he led the Life Science Tools and Diagnostics sector. Previously, Mr. Banerjee was with McKinsey and Goldman Sachs advising Fortune 500 healthcare companies globally on corporate and growth strategy, product development and launch strategy, international expansion, and mergers and acquisitions. Mr. Banerjee has successfully completed over 50 transactions, including private placements, IPOs, Followons, PIPE/RDs, and fixed income as well as mergers and acquisitions.

Earlier in his career, Mr. Banerjee worked at the Dana Farber Cancer Institute, the Whitehead Institute/M.I.T. Human Genome Project, and at the Massachusetts General Hospital Cancer Center. Mr. Banerjee holds an M.P.P. from the Kennedy School of Government at Harvard University and dual B.S. degrees in Biology and Economics from M.I.T., where he was elected a Howard Hughes Medical Institute Scholar.

“This is a significant time to join RainDance, with the company experiencing breakthrough sales growth. We are seeing strong customer demand for our novel products in sequence enrichment, such as rare variant analysis, as well as future applications in methylation and ultra-deep sequencing. RainDance is truly platform-agnostic and capitalizing on the explosive growth across next-generation sequencing,” said Banerjee. “Beyond sequence enrichment, we have demonstrated unique capabilities in digital PCR as well as protein, antibody, and single-cell applications. I am excited to be joining a high-caliber team with a proven track record of execution in these areas.”
Christopher McNary, who has served RainDance as CEO since November 2007, will join Mr. Banerjee on the senior executive team as Chief Commercial Officer and will focus on moving the company into high-growth commercialization. Mike Hunkapiller, General Partner at Alloy Ventures and Director at RainDance said, “Chris has brought strong leadership and operating experience to guide RainDance from technology-stage through commercial launch of our flagship RDT 1000 product. We are excited that Chris is turning his focus to leading the commercial charge for RainDance. RainDance is uniquely poised to unlock large latent markets and address unmet customer needs for single-cell analysis.”

About RainDance Technologies

RainDance Technologies’ proprietary technology platform delivers exquisite sensitivity and data quality that inspires scientists, researchers, and clinicians to rethink the way they design experiments, approach discovery, or conduct clinical diagnostics. The core RainStorm technology empowers customers to conduct de novo science in an ultra-high throughput, simple, flexible, and low-cost manner. RainDance’s commercial products include instruments and high-value consumables and reagents for sequence enrichment for next-generation sequencing, ultra-deep sequencing, and methylation analysis. RainDance sells directly in the U.S. and in Europe, and is building distribution networks in Europe and Asia-Pacific. RainDance Technologies, with headquarters in Lexington, Massachusetts, and a European sales office in the United Kingdom, has approximately 70 employees worldwide. For more information, please visit www.raindancetech.com.

RainStorm is a trademark of RainDance Technologies, Inc.

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Posted in Biosciences |


Tuesday, January 19th, 2010

RainDance Technologies Primer Library Design - FAQs

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RainDance Technologies has published an FAQ that helps researchers design primer libraries for their targeted sequencing studies.  Custom-order libraries for the company’s RDT 1000 system allow scientists to define libraries to enrich for loci of interest using RainDance’s Sequence Enrichment Solution.  PCR primers will be designed by RainDance to maximize specificity and yield using RainStorm(TM) droplet-based PCR.

The FAQ covers topics such as:

  • What is the average primer design coverage of target regions from RainDance’s primer design?
  • Do different sequencing platforms require different primer design parameters?
  • What kind of gene or genomic region identifiers should I use?

To download the FAQ, visit: http://www.raindancetech.com/documents/Primer_Library_FAQ_2010.pdf

About RainDance Technologies, Inc.

RainDance Technologies, Inc., is a provider of innovative microdroplet-based solutions for single-cell analyses that will accelerate human health and disease research. The speed and simplicity of the company’s exciting new technology platform enable researchers to design experiments in ways that were previously unaffordable or unimaginable. The company’s RainStorm™ technology produces picoliter-volume droplets at a rate of 10 million per hour. Each droplet is the functional equivalent of an individual test tube and can contain a single molecule, reaction, or cell. This versatile technology can adapt proven assays for high-speed workflows with minimized process-induced bias or error.

RainDance’s initial application focuses on the targeted sequencing of the human genome – one of the fastest-growing segments of the $1 billion DNA sequencing market. This application enables the high-resolution analysis of genetic variation between individuals and populations at a level unmatched by current methodology.

For more information, please visit www.raindancetech.com.

RainStorm is a trademark of RainDance Technologies, Inc.

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Public Relations contact, Boston: Tiziani Whitmyre Inc., http://www.tizinc.com/public-relations

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Posted in Biosciences |


Tuesday, January 19th, 2010

New White Paper Examines Advanced Mycoplasma Tests - How Real-Time PCR Analysis Helps Save Time and Money for Biopharmaceutical Manufacturers

microtest-logo1 AGAWAM, MASS. – January 19, 2010 – Contamination by mycoplasmal organisms is an ever-present concern in biopharmaceutical manufacturing. Their properties make them ready sources of contamination, while rendering them difficult and time-consuming to detect. A new free white paper, examines how PCR mycoplasma tests and analysis, deployed by a cutting-edge laboratory, minimizes testing delays and enable safe, high-volume biopharmaceutical production.

The new white paper, “Advanced Detection of Mycoplasmas: How Real-Time PCR Analysis Helps Save Time and Money for Biopharmaceutical Manufacturers,” explores relevant mycoplasma characteristics, established testing solutions, and the use of real-time PCR analysis as an alternative testing method for fast, preliminary mycoplasma detection.

It also available for download from: www.microtestlabs.com/mycoplasmapaper.

“Of all the threats that keep quality managers awake at night, mycoplasmas rank high. In a career performing quality control or quality assurance for biopharmaceutical manufacturing anywhere in the world, a QC or QA specialist will probably encounter mycoplasma contamination of a production facility at least once. The resulting devastation to the site’s output and schedules, as well as to its staff’s peace of mind, makes it urgent to avoid any repetition of the experience,” says Dennis Champagne, author of the white paper and Director of Lab Services at Microtest Laboratories, a leader in biopharmaceutical and mycoplasma tests and services.

“Whereas the traditional direct cultivation method takes 28 days to provide results, modern real-time PCR mycoplasma tests and analysis in an experienced testing laboratory may be accomplished in an actual testing duration of only 24 hours, plus the time needed for sample collection, shipment, preparation, and handling,” he said.

The white paper identifies the shortcomings of traditional identification methods, such as direct culture (for cultivable species), indirect culture (DNA fluorochrome staining — for noncultivable species), DNA probe, PCR, enzyme-linked immunosorbent assay (ELISA), autoradiography, and immunofluorescence.

The white paper explains how, as opposed to traditional methods, PCR mycoplasma analysis accurately quantifies DNA and/or RNA, furnishes increased sensitivity and specificity, detects all known mycoplasma species and works whether mycoplasmas in sample are living or dead.

Download the new white paper on PCR mycoplasma tests, “Advanced Detection of Mycoplasms: How Real-Time PCR Analysis Helps Save Time and Money for Biopharmaceutical Manufacturers,” at http://www.microtestlabs.com/mycoplasmapaper.


About Microtest

Microtest is a leader in testing services and contract manufacturing for the medical device, pharmaceutical, and biotechnology industries. Based in Agawam, Massachusetts, U.S.A., the company’s expertise and flexible processes enhance product safety and security, accelerate time to market, and minimize supply chain disruption. For more information, visit http://www.microtestlabs.com or call 1-413-786-1680 or toll-free 1-800-631-1680.

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Public Relations contact, Boston: Tiziani Whitmyre Inc., http://www.tizinc.com/public-relations

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Posted in Biosciences, Manufacturing |


Monday, November 2nd, 2009

Paper Finds Microdroplet PCR Enrichment Is Ideal Targeted Sequencing Solution For Large-Scale Population Studies

rdt-702290LEXINGTON, MASSACHUSETTS, U.S.A. – November 2, 2009 – Data generated using microdroplet PCR technology as an enrichment method is particularly well suited for performing sequence-based association studies, according to a paper published today by researchers at the Scripps Translational Science Institute, the University of California, San Diego School of Medicine, and RainDance Technologies, Inc.

The study, led by Kelly A. Frazer, Ph.D., Professor of Pediatrics and Chief, Division of Genome Information Sciences, UC San Diego Department of Pediatrics, evaluated microdroplet PCR’s advantages in performing sequence enrichment for targeted sequencing over the gold-standard traditional PCR approach. “These benefits translated into a much higher efficiency of sequencing and a much more cost-effective way to do population studies,” Frazer said, in commenting about the paper.

Entitled “Microdroplet-based PCR Enrichment for Large-Scale Targeted Sequencing,” the paper was published today on Nature Biotechnology’s Web site at Microdroplet-based PCR enrichment for large-scale targeted sequencing : Abstract : Nature Biotechnology (www.nature.com/nbt/journal/vaop/ncurrent/abs/nbt.1583.html) and will appear in the November issue of the magazine.

“I believe this new technology will be used to study the basic underpinnings of diseases and to understand their root causes,” said Eric J. Topol, M.D., Director of the Scripps Translational Science Institute and a co-author. “For instance, we’re now using it to understand the causes of anorexia nervosa. We also can use the technology to comprehend a disease’s response to a therapy or to determine a drug’s side effects. We even can employ it to study the healthy aging process. These are all applications for microdroplet PCR that will help us understand the vital aspects of human health and disease,” said Dr. Topol, in commenting on the paper.

The paper said that to efficiently perform population-based sequencing studies using next-generation sequencing platforms, it is important to be able to simultaneously examine large numbers of targeted sequences. “These results indicate that even when simultaneously amplifying 3,976 targeted sequences, microdroplet PCR generates a high ratio of target sequence to background sequence,” the authors said. The study concluded that data quality is independent of the number of amplicons. A path to scale to 20,000 amplicons while maintaining high performance was also demonstrated.

The paper’s authors said the microdroplet PCR process proved to be extremely efficient, with more than 99.6% of all amplicons being successful and with highly reproducible amplification of targeted sequences between samples. The data also showed that equivalently accurate SNP calling can be performed using microdroplet PCR whether the DNA is unamplified or whole-genome amplified from nanogram quantities. The allelic bias error rate of approximately 0.1% resulted in few known variants to be incorrectly called, further attesting to the robustness of the process.

“We were impressed with how well the technology worked,” said Dr. Frazer. “Compared to other types of sequence enrichment, we were able to generate greater uniform coverage of targeted sequences. In addition, the problems we typically encounter with standard PCR, such as difficult primer design and high allelic bias, were not observed with the microdroplet-based PCR workflow.”

“Efficient targeted sequencing will be critical as researchers study genetic variation in large populations to determine the causes of cancer and other complex diseases,” said Christopher McNary, President and Chief Executive Officer, RainDance Technologies. “This study confirms that our innovative RDT 1000 microdroplet-based platform is able to detect substantially higher numbers of variants in the targeted sequences than either solution-based hybridization or molecular inversion probes. This platform provides scientists with an exciting and highly effective new technology that accelerates research into the causes of these devastating diseases,” said McNary.

To view the paper, visit Microdroplet-based PCR enrichment for large-scale targeted sequencing : Abstract : Nature Biotechnology (www.nature.com/nbt/journal/vaop/ncurrent/abs/nbt.1583.html) or see the November 2009 issue of Nature Biotechnology: “Microdroplet-based PCR Enrichment for Large-Scale Targeted Sequencing.” Authors: Ryan Tewhey1,2, Jason Warner3, Masakazu Nakano1,4, Brian Libby3, Martina Medkova3, Patricia David3, Steve Kotsopoulos3, Michael Samuels3, J. Brian Hutchinson3, Jonathan W. Larson3, Eric J. Topol1, Michael P. Weiner3, Olivier Harismendy1,4, Jeff Olson3, Darren R. Link3, and Kelly A. Frazer1,4. DOI:10.1038/nbt.1583.

About RainDance Technologies, Inc.

RainDance Technologies, Inc., is a provider of innovative microdroplet-based solutions for single-cell analyses that will accelerate human health and disease research. The speed and simplicity of the company’s exciting new technology platform enable researchers to design experiments in ways that were previously unaffordable or unimaginable. The company’s RainStorm™ technology produces picoliter-volume droplets at a rate of 10 million per hour. Each droplet is the functional equivalent of an individual test tube and can contain a single molecule, reaction, or cell. This versatile technology can adapt proven assays for high-speed workflows with minimized process-induced bias or error.

RainDance�s initial application focuses on the targeted sequencing of the human genome – one of the fastest-growing segments of the $1 billion DNA sequencing market. This application enables the high-resolution analysis of genetic variation between individuals and populations at a level unmatched by current methodology.

For more information, please visit www.raindancetech.com.

RainStorm is a trademark of RainDance Technologies, Inc.

1Scripps Genomic Medicine, Scripps Translational Science Institute, The Scripps Research Institute, La Jolla, California, U.S.A.
2Division of Biological Sciences, University of California at San Diego, La Jolla, California, U.S.A.
3RainDance Technologies, Lexington, Massachusetts, U.S.A.
4Present address: Moores UCSD Cancer Center, La Jolla, California, U.S.A.

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Public Relations contact, Boston: Tiziani Whitmyre Inc., http://www.tizinc.com/public-relations

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Posted in Biosciences, Technology |


Thursday, October 22nd, 2009

RainDance Extends Sequence Enrichment Solution Capabilities With Methyl-Seq and Ultra-Deep Resequencing Applications

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HONOLULU, HAWAII, U.S.A., October 22, 2009 — RainDance Technologies, Inc., a leading provider of innovative microdroplet-based solutions for human health and disease research, announced today it will extend the capabilities of its Sequence Enrichment Solution by offering Methyl-Seq and Ultra-Deep Resequencing applications.

In a presentation at the 59th Annual Meeting of the American Society of Human Genetics, the company said these enhancements represent a significant expansion of the RainDance technology platform’s capabilities. They will enable researchers to use their RDT 1000 instruments for epigenomic and ultra-deep resequencing studies that can accurately characterize the molecular basis for cancer and other destructive diseases.

“Methyl-Seq and Ultra-Deep Resequencing will provide exciting new tools to our customers’ research methodologies,” said Christopher McNary, President and Chief Executive Officer, RainDance Technologies. “Now scientists can apply our Sequence Enrichment Solution to gain better understanding of how disease cells differ from normal cells, enhancing their understanding of the origins and pathways of complex diseases.”

Methyl-Seq Allows Use of PCR-Based Enrichment and Next-Generation Sequencing for Higher-Resolution Epigenomic Studies

RainDance said its Methyl-Seq application will provide scientists with new capabilities for epigenomics research, a field recognized in a National Institutes of Health Roadmap as having exceptionally high potential to transform biomedical research. The study of epigenomics explores how factors such as environment can change gene expression and gene activity over time in a manner that heightens susceptibility to disease.

The Methyl-Seq application will allow researchers, for the first time, to combine PCR-based sequence enrichment with the power of next-generation sequencing platforms to perform epigenomic studies at significantly higher resolution. By studying methylation patterns with single-base resolution across targeted regions of the genome, researchers can get a better understanding of epigenomic variation and can discover opportunities to develop new treatments for cancer and other complex diseases.

“Methyl-Seq enables the targeted amplification and next-generation sequencing of bisulfite-converted DNA for the identification of methylated bases in the genome with greater accuracy and quality of data,” said McNary.

Ultra-Deep Resequencing Enables PCR-Based Enrichment to Accurately Characterize Variance in Heterogeneous Samples

RainDance’s Ultra-Deep Resequencing application enables the use of the company’s PCR-based Sequence Enrichment Solution to accurately characterize rare variants in highly heterogeneous samples, such as those found in cancer tumors. Studies suggest that rare genetic variants may play significant roles in tumorigenesis, pathogenesis, and disease progression. Previously, ultra-deep resequencing of heterogeneous samples with standard PCR approaches has been difficult because of the loss of accurate DNA representation.

“The unique compartmentalization capability of our RainStorm microdroplet-based technology provides highly efficient amplification of all sequence variants in the sample,” McNary said. “This ensures that accurate representation and a high depth of coverage are maintained for ultra-low frequency variants.”

Both the Methyl-Seq and Ultra-Deep Resequencing applications will be commercially available during the first half of 2010. They will utilize the RDT 1000 system’s proven consumables and reagents.

“The capabilities of these new applications, plus the expanded-content DNA primer libraries and WGA sample protocols announced last month, make the RDT 1000 a highly flexible genomic research platform that easily integrates with any next-generation sequencing workflow,” said McNary. “Both the Methyl-Seq and Ultra-Deep Resequencing applications are simple to use and integrate seamlessly with our Sequence Enrichment Solution. Our applications will help researchers rethink their approaches to discovery as they unlock the cures for the world’s most devastating diseases,” he said.

About RainDance Technologies, Inc.

RainDance Technologies, Inc., is a provider of innovative microdroplet-based solutions for single-cell analyses that will accelerate human health and disease research. The speed and simplicity of the company’s exciting new technology platform enable researchers to design experiments in ways that were previously unaffordable or unimaginable. The company’s RainStormTM technology produces picoliter-volume droplets at a rate of 10 million per hour. Each droplet is the functional equivalent of an individual test tube and can contain a single molecule, reaction, or cell. This versatile technology can adapt proven assays for high-speed workflows with minimized process-induced bias or error.

RainDance’s initial application focuses on the targeted sequencing of the human genome — one of the fastest-growing segments of the $1 billion DNA sequencing market. This application enables the high-resolution analysis of genetic variation between individuals and populations at a level unmatched by current methodology.

For more information, please visit www.raindancetech.com.

RainStorm is a trademark of RainDance Technologies, Inc.

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Public Relations contact, Boston: Tiziani Whitmyre Inc., http://www.tizinc.com/public-relations

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Posted in Biosciences, Technology |


Monday, October 19th, 2009

Circle Medical Devices, Texcel Medical Merge to Form CIRTEC Medical Systems

Springfield, Mass. — October 19, 2009 – Circle Medical Devices of Los Gatos, Calif., and Texcel Medical of Springfield, Mass., have merged to create CIRTEC Medical Systems a leading provider of comprehensive medical product design and manufacturing solutions.

“The merger introduces CIRTEC Medical Systems to medical device manufacturers as a preeminent, globally-experienced, single-sourced solution from concept through high-volume finished goods manufacturing,” said Barry Smith, Chief Executive Officer of CIRTEC Medical Systems (www.cirtecmed.com).

“CIRTEC Medical Systems combines the strength of Circle Medical’s extensive design and development capability with Texcel Medical’s exceptional development and manufacturing. This strategic union creates a strong, technically-driven, 130-person full-service medical device engineering and manufacturing industry resource that is deeply-experienced across all therapeutic categories. Moreover, our team has particular expertise in minimally invasive systems, active and passive implants, and medical electronics,” Smith said.

Smith said the two firms have helped to create and accelerate the commercialization of more than 300 medical device technologies safely, rapidly, and cost-effectively. Clients range from start-up medical technology innovators to international medical device manufacturers.

CIRTEC Medical Systems operates from three locations across the U.S. — Texcel’s facility in Springfield, MA, and Circle Medical’s locations in Minneapolis, MN, and Los Gatos, CA. Jerry Hansen is CIRTEC Medical Systems Executive Chairman and Founder; Larry Derose is Chairman and Founder; and Michael Forman is President and Chief Technology Officer (CTO).

The announcement follows news in August of Texcel Medical plans to expand its medical device development and manufacturing capabilities and services with nearly $1 million in new state-of-the-art capital manufacturing equipment and added professional staffing.

For more information about CIRTEC Medical Systems, visit the company at the MD&M Minneapolis medical device design and manufacturing trade show in booth #911, October 21-23; online at www.cirtecmed.com; or call 1-413-525-5700.

About CIRTEC Medical Systems

CIRTEC Medical Systems (www.cirtecmed.com) is a preeminent single-source provider of comprehensive medical product design and manufacturing solutions from concept through high-volume finished goods across all therapeutic categories. It was created in October 2009 by the merger of Circle Medical Devices of Los Gatos, Calif., and Minneapolis, Minn., with Texcel Medical of Springfield, Mass. Its technically-driven, 130-person team has particular expertise in minimally invasive systems, active and passive implants, and medical electronics. CIRTEC Medical Systems is ISO-13485 (2003) certified and is based in Springfield, Mass.

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Public Relations contact, Boston: Tiziani Whitmyre Inc., http://www.tizinc.com/public-relations

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Posted in Biosciences, Business, Health/Medical, Manufacturing, Technology |


Wednesday, October 7th, 2009

Tiziani Whitmyre Rebrands Massachusetts Biotechnology Council

tiziani-whitmyre_logo_black-textSHARON, MASSACHUSETTS, October 7, 2009 – Tiziani Whitmyre, Inc., a Boston-area marketing services firm, has completed a brand development and corporate identity program for the Massachusetts Biotechnology Council (MassBio).

MassBio used Tiziani Whitmyre’s brand development process and design services to create a logo and brand color palette that embodied the organization’s new strategic vision and direction.

“The new brand identity supports the new strategic direction of the organization as laid out by our 2015 Report,” said Robert K. Coughlin, President and Chief Executive Officer, MassBio. “It also better reflects our commitment to improve and evolve to best meet our members’ needs. We are an organization that convenes and connects, that brings together industry leaders to teach and learn. Our new branding represents and communicates these attributes. It gives us a recognizable and memorable new brand identity that will support the achievement of our goals in the years ahead,” Coughlin said.

“Life sciences is a major driver of economic growth in our state as well as in the quality of life for people around the world,” said Rick Whitmyre, president of Tiziani Whitmyre. “In accepting this assignment, we recognized that MassBio’s new corporate identity must be as powerful as the organization’s new vision and mission.”

Incorporating a stylized icon that suggests molecular structure, Tiziani Whitmyre created a mark that reflects MassBio’s biotechnology focus, plus suggests its unique attributes of connection, networking, and advocacy.

“When the logo is combined with the new blue, green, and yellow color palette, the brand identity embraces the optimism and vibrancy of the industry plus the ideals and values of the organization,” said Whitmyre.

Tiziani Whitmyre executed the new corporate identity across business materials (business card, letterhead, envelope, and PowerPoint template), Website, and organization publications. A corporate identity style guide was produced to ensure disciplined application of the brand across all future business and marketing services materials.

To view the new logo, visit www.massbio.org.

About Tiziani Whitmyre

Tiziani Whitmyre (www.tizinc.com) is a Boston area-based marketing services and strategies agency that builds brands, generates sales leads, and delivers an ROI which maximizes payback on any marketing communications budget. Services include Internet marketing (including search engine optimization, affiliate marketing, web design), public relations (PR), advertising, direct marketing, graphic design, and corporate branding.

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Public Relations contact, Boston: Tiziani Whitmyre Inc., http://www.tizinc.com/public-relations

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Wednesday, September 23rd, 2009

RainDance Expands Sequence Enrichment Solution Capabilities with 20,000 Amplicon Library and Whole Genome Amplification Protocol

rdt-702290 PROVIDENCE, RHODE ISLAND, U.S.A., September 23, 2009 — RainDance Technologies, Inc., a leading provider of innovative microdroplet-based solutions for health and human disease research, announced today it has expanded the capabilities of its Sequence Enrichment Solution to enable the resequencing of up to 20,000 PCR targets. In addition, RainDance said it has become the first to support whole genome amplified samples for targeted resequencing.

In a presentation at Cambridge Healthtech Institute’s Exploring Next-Generation Sequencing conference, the company said these new enhancements represent a logical evolution of the RainDance technology platform and will add attractive benefits for the researcher investigating rare variants in large populations that cause cancer and other devastating diseases.

“With these expanded capabilities, we expect the market will accelerate its adoption of the RDT 1000, the centerpiece of our Sequence Enrichment Solution, for targeted resequencing studies across all genomic research sectors and in conjunction with all next-generation sequencing platforms,” said Christopher McNary, President and Chief Executive Officer, RainDance Technologies. “Our aggressive development program is rapidly creating new high-value protocols and applications, enabling RDT 1000 customers to increase the speed of their research into complex diseases,” said McNary.

Expanded Primer Library Enables Broader View of Human Genome

RainDance said it has expanded the content of its DNA primer library from 4,000 amplicons to 20,000 amplicons, while maintaining the precision provided by microdroplet-based PCR. This will allow researchers to incorporate a broader range of content for their large-scale targeted resequencing studies and to broaden their view of the human genome.

“Workflow and sample requirements will not change as the content is scaled up to 20,000 amplicons,” McNary said. “Our Sequence Enrichment Solution will maintain its performance and continue to provide the highest-quality data and sample uniformity.”

The company said the expanded DNA libraries will be available in the first quarter of 2010 and can be ordered through RainDance sales channels and service providers.

Whole Genome Amplification Protocol Supports Small Sample Sequencing

RainDance also announced it is the first company to support the use of whole genome amplified DNA samples for sequence enrichment. This capability will enable researchers to conduct studies with sample quantities that were previously too small for targeted resequencing. Now scientists can perform whole genomic amplification (WGA) on rare or small samples that have very low amounts of DNA, such as those found in tumor biopsies.

“The results of our studies demonstrate that RainDance’s Sequence Enrichment Solution is fully compatible with WGA samples and delivers the same high-quality results as assays performed with unamplified data,” said McNary.

The company said its WGA protocol is available now and has been validated using kits from Qiagen, GE Healthcare, and BioHelix Corporation. The kits can be ordered from their respective manufacturers.

“Both our expanded content library and WGA protocol are exceptionally easy to use and work seamlessly with our Sequence Enrichment Solution and RDT 1000 system,” McNary said. “These new capabilities are the first of many exciting applications for microdroplet-based PCR that RainDance will introduce in the coming weeks. These enhancements will help researchers rethink the way they design resequencing studies and will encourage new approaches to discovery. They will use the same proven hardware, consumables, and reagents presently available for our commercial solution,” he said.

About RainDance Technologies, Inc.

RainDance Technologies, Inc., is a provider of innovative microdroplet-based solutions for human health and disease research. The speed and simplicity of the company’s exciting new technology platform enable researchers to design experiments in ways that were previously unaffordable or unimaginable. The company’s RainStorm™ technology produces picoliter-volume droplets at a rate of 10 million per hour. Each droplet is the functional equivalent of an individual test tube and can contain a single molecule, reaction, or cell. This versatile technology can adapt proven assays for high-speed workflows with minimized process-induced bias or error.

RainDance’s initial application will focus on the targeted sequencing of the human genome — one of the fastest-growing segments of the $1 billion DNA sequencing market. This application will enable the high-resolution analysis of genetic variation between individuals and populations at a level unmatched by current methodology.

For more information, please visit www.raindancetech.com.

RainStorm is a trademark of RainDance Technologies, Inc.

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Public Relations contact, Boston: Tiziani Whitmyre Inc., http://www.tizinc.com/public-relations

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