Bonn, Germany – 25 June 2012 – SAW Instruments LLC has inked a deal with US firm Full Spectrum Genetics (FSG) to place a high-end sam®X biosensor in FSG’s San Francisco laboratory. Financial terms of the deal have not been disclosed. Within the agreement, FSG will have full access to the biosensor for its own internal research programs, and will receive full applications training and support from SAW Instruments. The new system will be installed at the end of June and will mean that researchers on the West Coast can book demonstration slots and visit locally to see the sam®X in action. sam®X utilizes innovative Surface Acoustic Wave (SAW) technology (rather than optical methods like conventional SPR) to generate real-time, label-free binding data. This makes the sam® family of biosensors an enabling and cost-effective solution in drug discovery and life science research, ideal for measuring protein:protein, protein:small molecule and antibody:cell interactions on a single platform.
Dr Bob DuBridge, CEO of Full Spectrum Genetics, commented: “We are very excited about having access to a sam®X system in our laboratory, since it will enable us to accurately measure the binding of our protein and peptide inhibitors to multi-spanning proteins, such as tetraspanners and GPCRs, on the surface of intact cells. Traditionally these measurements have been difficult to make on this class of cellular receptors, and we expect this technology will enable us to expand our development of biotherapeutics to include these important pharmaceutical targets.”
Managing Director of SAW Instruments, Dr Markus Perpeet, said: “We are delighted that FSG has chosen the sam®X biosensor for its antibody research and development programs, as well as to demonstrate the system’s powerful capabilities to other interested parties. We have had a similar arrangement in Boston for East Coast customers and this has already proved extremely popular. SAW will also be implementing a local West Coast Field Applications Scientist, who will be on-site to offer support and showcase the system to other researchers.” FSG is located in South San Francisco, extremely close to San Francisco International Airport, putting it within easy distance of anyone on the West Coast of the US.
As the newest member of the sam® family, the sam®X is optimized for higher throughput, having 8 sensors, and for on-line loading and binding of capture proteins. The elegant fluidics on sam®X also enables samples to be delivered to unique sensor positions or to common groups of 2, 4 or 8 sensors with the same sample or reagent.
To request a sam®X demonstration at FSG, or for more information about the SAW approach, please visit www.saw-instruments.com.
Notes on the technology
Surface Acoustic Wave technology is based on the ability of a wave of energy to travel across the surface of a material. Each surface has a typical inherent elasticity affecting the way the energy of the wave dissipates as it travels across the surface of the material being analysed. Thus, the nature of the surface in question, and therefore any changes to it, can be assessed by sensors monitoring the behaviour of the wave as it propagates across the surface. In particular, changes in mass result in alterations to the phase of the wave, whilst viscoelastic and conformational characteristics influence wave amplitude. The technology developed and employed by SAW instruments is capable of accurately interpreting this information in order to provide real time readouts measuring binding and conformational changes in the samples through which the wave passes.
About SAW Instruments GmbH
SAW Instruments GmbH, headquartered in Bonn, Germany, designs, develops and sells biosensor-based laboratory instruments for life sciences research. The proprietary technology of SAW Instruments employs a Surface Acoustic Waves approach to biological measurement, rather than using traditional optical methods such as SPR. The technology is uniquely positioned compared to other biosensor technologies based on its ability to measure antibody binding to whole cells, protein small molecule binding in high DMSO, and conformational changes in proteins caused by ligand binding. In addition, the system is also capable of providing other industry standard measurements including those involving concentration, kinetics and affinity.
SAW instruments has more than ten years experience in the field of label-free biosensor technology and a number of our customers have successfully published work employing the platform. It is our goal is to continue to build on this experience, as well as to develop a family of workflow-driven products to further meet our customers’ needs. SAW Instruments USA, LLC is a wholly owned US subsidiary of SAW Instruments GmbH
About Full Spectrum Genetics
Founded in 2010, Full Spectrum Genetics, Inc. is a privately-held protein analysis and engineering platform and product company. The Company’s MapEng™ platform enables the ultra-high throughput quantification of the effect on binding of every possible single amino acid substitution within a protein binding site. The MapEng™ platform provides a comprehensive analysis of protein structure-function relationships, with multiple applications for generating better bio therapeutics and diagnostics. For more information on Full Spectrum Genetics and its MapEng™ platform, visit www.fsgene.com.
Contact:
Bob DuBridge
CEO
Full Spectrum Genetics, Inc.
650-754-7384
bob@fsgene.com
