Caliper Life Sciences and Sony DADC Collaborate to Develop Plastic Microfluidic Solutions

HOPKINTON, Mass., Nov. 3, 2010 /PRNewswire-FirstCall/ --Caliper Life Sciences, Inc. (Nasdaq: CALP), a leading provider of tools and services for drug discovery and life sciences research, today announced a collaboration with Sony DADC Austria AG for the co-development and manufacture of plastic consumables for Caliper's next generation microfluidics products. The agreement combines Sony DADC's premier Blu-ray Disc manufacturing technology and manufacturing capacity with Caliper's extensive microfluidics expertise and patent portfolio to develop enabling solutions for life science researchers and for diagnostic applications.

Caliper Life Sciences and Sony DADC have co-developed consumables for the LabChip® XT system, Caliper's automated nucleic acid fractionation instrument for next generation sequencing applications. The LabChip XT removes a key bottleneck in sequencing workflows by replacing tedious gel isolation and purification steps used in size selection. The plastic chips manufactured by Sony DADC allow Caliper to offer a cost-effective and disposable consumable that eliminates cross-contamination potential, which is of key concern for genomics researchers.

"The exacting requirements for fragment size control in Next Gen Sequencing are best addressed with Caliper's patented microfluidics technology, while the scale of the opportunity created an opportunity for outsourced manufacturing and the transition to plastic chip format," said Kevin Hrusovsky, President and CEO of Caliper Life Sciences. "We selected Sony DADC, the world's largest producer of super high quality Blu-ray discs, because of their outstanding quality and large volume manufacturing credentials."

"Sony DADC is pleased to partner with Caliper Life Sciences to co-develop breakthrough microfluidic technologies based on our high volume plastic consumable manufacturing capabilities," said Dieter Daum, President and CEO of Sony DADC. "We are committed to the life sciences and IVD industry and look forward to a continued development relationship with Caliper, its licensees and other leading life sciences and IVD companies."

About Caliper Life Sciences

Caliper Life Sciences is a premier provider of cutting-edge technologies enabling researchers in the life sciences industry to create life-saving and enhancing medicines and diagnostic tests more quickly and efficiently. Caliper is aggressively innovating new technology to bridge the gap between in vitro assays and in vivo results and then translating those results into cures for human disease. Caliper's portfolio of offerings includes state-of-the-art microfluidics, lab automation and liquid handling, optical imaging technologies, and discovery and development outsourcing solutions. For more information please visit www.caliperLS.com.

About Sony DADC

Sony DADC is a leading disc and digital solution service provider for the entertainment, education and information industries, offering world-class digital and physical supply chain solutions and software services. The global network comprises optical media production and distribution facilities as well as digital and service facilities in 19 countries worldwide, including Japan, the US and Europe. For more information please visit www.sonydadc.com

Caliper and LabChip are registered trademarks of Caliper Life Sciences, Inc. Blu-ray Disc is a trademark of the Blu-ray Disc Association.

SOURCE Caliper Life Sciences, Inc.