PALO ALTO, Calif., Feb. 27 /PRNewswire/ -- Frost & Sullivan selected Axela Biosensors, Inc. as the recipient of the 2007 Frost & Sullivan Product Innovation Award in the North American protein assays market for its dotLab System.
This device offers an accessible platform for scientists to determine protein levels and characterize protein interactions. The depth of information provided accelerates immunoassay development and contributes at each stage of the development process, including reagent characterizaion, antibody pairing, and cross reactivity studies. The platform is unique in its ability to execute both assay development and routine analysis on the same system.
Axela’s dotLab System employs two technologies: grating-based light diffraction and immobilized capture surfaces, the combination of which produces a sensitive and simple technique for detecting molecular binding events without the use of fluorescent labels. In this system, protein-specific capture molecules are immobilized on the dotLab Sensor surface in eight different locations, or assay spots. The capture molecules in each spot are attached to the surface of the sensor in a series of parallel lines, which produce a specific diffraction pattern when illuminated with a laser. The sensor surface forms the base of a low-volume flow cell. When a continuous stream of a sample is introduced, target molecules bind to assay spots, producing an enhanced diffraction signal. The dotLab System then uses the intensity of the diffraction signal to generate real-time binding curves. This combination of independent multiplex detection with a flow-based sensor overcomes many of the challenges faced by end point measurement assays
“The dotLab Sensor surfaces utilize Avidin, Protein G, goat anti-mouse-Fc and amine-reactive surfaces, enabling quantitative measurement across a broad dynamic range, including high and low abundance proteins in a single sample,” says Frost & Sullivan Research Analyst Pramodh Ishwarakrishnan. “Since the illumination and detection beams never pass through the sample, the dotLab System is ideal for the detection of proteins in complex biological samples such as serum, plasma, and crude cell lysates.”
The dotLab System represents a novel biosensor platform that enables bench-top researchers to rapidly detect biomarkers in complex media and better understand molecular interactions in real-time. The system cost-effectively helps transform discoveries into assays that can be used by scientists involved in drug discovery, biomarker validation, or translational research. Axela’s recent licensing of A2(R) Universal Linker Technology from Beckman Coulter will allow users to directly multiplex their own targets, or combine with the Axela library to form custom panels on demand.
“The dotLab System’s biosensor technology allows researchers to rapidly identify and quantify therapeutic and clinically relevant protein biomarkers without the use of a fluorescent tag and detect and understand molecular interactions as they occur,” notes Ishwarakrishnan. “The company is presently expanding its library of proprietary biomarker content for multiplexed research or diagnostic assays and is particularly focusing on proteins that have long-term utility in point-of-use settings.”
Each year Frost & Sullivan presents this Award to the company that has demonstrated excellence in new products and technologies within their industry. The recipient company has shown innovation by launching a broad line of emerging products and technologies.
Frost & Sullivan Best Practices Awards recognize companies in a variety of regional and global markets for demonstrating outstanding achievement and superior performance in areas such as leadership, technological innovation, customer service, and strategic product development. Industry analysts compare market participants and measure performance through in-depth interviews, analysis, and extensive secondary research in order to identify best practices in the industry.
About Axela Biosensors, Inc., Canada
Axela Biosensors is commercializing products that accelerate the validation of protein biomarkers from discovery into routine clinical practice. The Company has developed a proprietary breakthrough technology, Diffractive Optics Technology (dot(TM)), which enables the real-time detection and quantitation of protein binding events in complex media. Axela has developed this technology into the dotLab(TM) System, a commercially available bench-top laboratory system that delivers simple, affordable, yet highly sensitive protein based assays. To leverage the opportunities that dot(TM) creates, Axela has assembled a management team with extensive experience in diagnostic and research product development and commercialization. Axela Biosensors is a privately-held company based in Toronto, Canada whose major investor is VenGrowth Private Equity Partners Inc., one of Canada’s premier private equity managers. For more information, please visit http://www.axelabiosensors.com.
About Frost & Sullivan
Frost & Sullivan, a global growth consulting company, has been partnering with clients to support the development of innovative strategies for more than 40 years. The company’s industry expertise integrates growth consulting, growth partnership services, and corporate management training to identify and develop opportunities. Frost & Sullivan serves an extensive clientele that includes Global 1000 companies, emerging companies, and the investment community by providing comprehensive industry coverage that reflects a unique global perspective and combines ongoing analysis of markets, technologies, econometrics, and demographics. For more information, visit http://www.awards.frost.com.
Contact: Stacie Jones 210.247.2450 Stacie.jones@frost.com
Frost & Sullivan
CONTACT: Stacie Jones of Frost & Sullivan, +1-210-247-2450,Stacie.jones@frost.com
