Almac and Edinburgh Instruments launch of FLEXYTE fluorescence lifetime assays at MipTec
October 13, 2009
Almac, a leading provider of integrated research, development and manufacturing services to the pharmaceutical industry and Edinburgh Instruments, manufacturers of fluorescence spectrometers, have launched a fluorescence assay system under the FLEXYTE™ brand – harnessing the power and potential of fluorescence lifetime technology for robust, efficient and economical screening of protein kinases.
FLEXYTE™ will be launched at the MipTec meeting in Basle Switzerland on the 13th – 15th October 2009.
FLEXYTE™ assays have already been developed for 11 different representative protein kinases. Protease assays will follow in the near future, with lipid kinases also in development. The protein kinase programme marks a successful collaboration between Almac Sciences, Edinburgh Instruments and DundeeUniversity.
Avoiding radioactivity, antibodies and associated costs, fluorescent lifetime technology enables homogenous, robust and reliable assays with minimized interference from problem compounds, and will allow miniaturization, and multiplexing, while maintaining an information-rich output.
Generic substrates enable fluorescent lifetime assays to be configured for a broad panel of Ser/Thr protein kinases in a rapid fashion, covering over 100 different kinases – and with performance comparable to radiometric assays. Almac notes that the FLEXYTE™ screen approach is applicable to any protein kinase having the appropriate peptide substrates. Assay reagents and protocols will be available in bulk form for high throughput screening or in kit form for lower capacity assays.
Commenting on the FLEXYTE™ introduction, Almac Sciences’ President and Managing Director, Stephen Barr said:
“FLEXYTE™ will offer significant advantages to screening laboratories of all capacities by applying the benefits of fluorescence lifetime to a high performance kinase assay platform.”
For Edinburgh Instruments, Des Smith, CEO added “We are very excited to be able to offer a platform which applies the power of fluorescence lifetime technology to generic kinase screening through FLEXYTE™ assays.”
FLEXYTE™ integrates the strengths and experience of all three programme partners. Almac Sciences brings proven expertise in the synthesis of fluorescent labelled peptides and proteins, in the development of proprietary fluorophores for fluorescent lifetime applications and in biochemical assay development.
With a history of pioneering developments in time resolved fluorescence spectroscopy, Edinburgh Instruments is focused on the design and manufacture of fluorescence spectrometers, with a world base of more than 500 spectrometers in 45 countries. DundeeUniversity has proven expertise in the protein kinase field, in running screening services and in collaborating with industrial partners.
– ENDS –
For further information contact:
Robert Grundy
Director Research Alliances,
Almac Group Ltd.
+44 (0) 28 3839 5794
www.flexyte-assays.com
Notes for Editors:
- FLEXYTE™ dedicated technical presentations and supporting data are available on request to [email protected].
- To find out more about FLEXYTE™, visit www.flexyte-assays.com
About Almac Group:
Almac is a financially stable, privately owned organisation with over 30 years experience, it provides integrated development solutions to over 600 customers worldwide including all the world leaders in the pharmaceutical and biotechnology sectors. Their services include R&D, translational genomic services; API manufacture; formulation development; clinical trial supply and technology (IVRS/IWRS/ePRO) and commercial-scale manufacture.
For more information about the Almac Group, please visit almacgroup.com or e-mail [email protected].
The company has over 2,500 employees and is headquartered in Craigavon, Northern Ireland, where it was awarded “Business of the Year 2009”. US operations are based in Pennsylvania, North Carolina and California. Construction of the company’s new $112m North American Headquarters in PA started in July 2008 and will be completed in 2010.
About Edinburgh Instruments:
Since its establishment in 1971, Edinburgh Instruments Ltd has become recognised as a leading light in the photonics and electro-optics industries. It is now located in purpose built facilities just outside Edinburgh, where it employs around 60 people.
Over the years Edinburgh Instruments has continually sought to diversify and develop new and innovative products, winning many international design, technology and export achievement awards.
The company has pioneered developments in time resolved fluorescence for over 30 years with some 600 research spectrometers used world-wide in industries as diverse as medical, bio-physical, plasma and semiconductor research, chemical analysis, forensic science, to cutting and marking in industrial applications.
For more information about Edinburgh Instruments please visit www.edinst.com or e-mail [email protected].
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