Press Release
Althea Technologies and Blueshift Biotechnologies Combine Technologies for High Throughput, Gene Expression Screening
San Diego - January 30, 2007 Althea Technologies, Inc., a leading provider of innovative technologies and services for pharmaceutical development and manufacturing with Blueshift Biotechnologies, a life sciences technology company headquartered in the San Francisco Bay Area, announced today that Althea has received a SBIR award from the National Human Genome Research Institute to explore the potential for practical high throughput and low cost gene expression analysis. The grant proposes the development of gene expression profiling methods that make use of Althea's proprietary strength in multiplexed PCR (XP™-PCR)* methods and Blueshift's IsoCyte™ platform, a high throughput laser scanner adapted from semiconductor inspection technology which provides multicolor fluorescence, anisotropy, and scatter images for high content and object-based multiplexed array formats. The combined technologies may enable implementation of quantitative gene expression profiling in an automated high throughput platform, providing highly specific and quantitative results for as many as 768 samples per minute.
"This kind of throughput," stated Dr. Joseph Monforte, Althea's Chief Scientific Officer, "provides an opportunity to broadly introduce gene expression profiling into compound library screening. Because complex diseases such as cancer, cardiovascular and neurological diseases impact many genes, it will be critical to study the treatment responses of dozens of genes in detail to fully assess and differentiate drug candidates in an economical manner. The combination of multiplexed gene expression and sophisticated scanning instrumentation may provide a novel system that delivers quantitative data on dozens of genes in a truly high throughput manner."
"We are excited to be working with Althea on this project", stated Dr. Evan Cromwell, President and CEO of Blueshift Biotechnologies, "our IsoCyte scanner is an ideal platform for the development of a variety of high content screening applications. Given the IsoCyte's resolution, color multiplexing, and high throughput capabilities, this represents a wonderful opportunity for extending the use of our platform into high throughput genetic analysis."
About Althea Technologies, Inc.
Althea Technologies, a leading San Diego-based pharmaceutical services firm, provides critical manufacturing and development services that support researchers worldwide in their advancement of novel therapies and efforts to apply new genomic information. Althea's services include cGMP contract manufacturing of recombinant proteins, DNA-based therapeutics and vaccines, aseptic filling, and gene quantification using real-time PCR and gene expression analysis under GLP conditions. Additionally, Althea has introduced new services and technologies for the identification and development of genetic biomarkers with innovative programs such as the company's proprietary eXpress PathwaySM. For more information, visit www.altheatech.com.
About Blueshift Biotechnologies
Blueshift Biotechnologies, Inc. is a privately funded technology company headquartered in the San Francisco Bay Area. Blueshift has adapted semiconductor inspection technology to new screening platforms for life sciences research. The platforms are based on Dynamic Fluorimetry™, which denotes measurements beyond intensity and color: specifically anisotropy and lifetime. Measurements made from these methods provide information on the local environment and binding state of molecules. Blueshift Biotechnologies is developing strategic alliances for products important to genomic, proteomics, cytomics, and diagnostic applications. Additional information about Blueshift Biotechnologies can be obtained at www.blueshiftbiotech.com.
*The PCR process is covered by patents owned by Roche Molecular Systems, Inc. and F. Hoffman-La Roche, Ltd.
Althea Technologies, Inc. Contact:
Cyrus K. Mirsaidi
Executive Director
Genomics Business Development
858.882.0220, ext. 325
cmirsaidi@altheatech.com
Blueshift Biotechnologies, Inc. Contact:
Blueshift Biotechnologies, Inc.
Chris Shumate
Vice President Sales and Marketing
530.613.1062
cshumate@blueshiftbiotech.com