New Findings in Drug-Induced Receptor Activity Using Roche’s xCELLigence System

Penzberg, Germany, February 15, 2012 -- A research team led by Dr. Michel Bouvier at the Institute for Research in Immunology and Cancer (IRIC) of the University of Montreal in Quebec, used the Roche xCELLigence SP Instrument to measure changes in cell response following ligand stimulation (Stallaert et al., 2012, PloS ONE 7(1): e29420). According to their findings, selective pharmacological inhibition of specific arms of the ß2AR signaling network was able to correlate the differential contribution of signaling events to specific components of the cell response. The essential role of intracellular Ca2+ in the cell response also led to the discovery of a novel ß2AR-promoted Ca2+ mobilization event.

The discovery that drugs targeting a single G protein-coupled receptor (GPCR) can differentially modulate distinct subsets of the receptor signaling repertoire is a very important step in drug discovery. Findings of the present study underscore the power of using real-time cell monitoring to dissect the pluridimensionality of GPCR signaling using integrative approaches for a comprehensive readout of drug-induced cellular activity.

About Roche

Headquartered in Basel, Switzerland, Roche is a leader in research-focused healthcare with combined strengths in pharmaceuticals and diagnostics. Roche is the world’s largest biotech company with truly differentiated medicines in oncology, virology, inflammation, metabolism and CNS. Roche is also the world leader in in-vitro diagnostics, tissue-based cancer diagnostics and a pioneer in diabetes management. Roche’s personalized healthcare strategy aims at providing medicines and diagnostic tools that enable tangible improvements in the health, quality of life and survival of patients. In 2011, Roche had over 80,000 employees worldwide and invested over 8 billion Swiss francs in R&D. The Group posted sales of 42.5 billion Swiss francs. Genentech, United States, is a wholly owned member of the Roche Group. Roche has a majority stake in Chugai Pharmaceutical, Japan. For more information: www.roche.com.

About IRIC

An ultra-modern research hub and training centre located in the heart of the University of Montréal, the Institute for Research in Immunology and Cancer (IRIC) was created in 2003 to shed light on the mechanisms of cancer and discover new, more effective therapies to counter this plague. IRIC's 29 research teams operate according to a model that is unique in Canada. Its innovative approach to research has already led to discoveries that will, over the coming years, have a significant impact on the fight against cancer.

For life science research only. Not for use in diagnostic procedures.

XCELLIGENCE AND E-PLATE are trademarks of Roche.

All other product names and trademarks are the property of their respective owners.

For further information please contact:

Roche Diagnostics

Dr. Burkhard Ziebolz

Phone: +49 8856 604830

Email: burkhard.ziebolz@roche.com