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Roche and ACEA enter exclusive world-wide agreement

16 Nov 2007

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Roche and ACEA Biosciences Inc., San Diego, USA today announced that they have entered into an exclusive agreement for the development, supply and distribution for ACEA Bioscience’s real-time cell assay technology. Under the terms of the agreement, RAS will exclusively market systems for real-time cell analysis, based on ACEA Bioscience's impedance-based technology. This technology is designed for a multitude of applications spanning from short term kinetic analysis, for example for measuring effects on G-protein coupled receptors (GPCRs), to assays for cell proliferation, cytotoxicity, and even cell migration and invasion. Financial terms of the contract were not disclosed.

“After completing our product portfolio in DNA/RNA analysis with 454 and NimbleGen, the ACEA technology will be an essential cornerstone to strengthen and further extend our product portfolio in cell analysis. We are convinced that ACEA´s platform products for cell based assays will form a new industrial standard for life science cell-analysis,” commented Manfred Baier, Head of Roche Applied Science.

“We are pleased to strategically partner with Roche, one of the premier companies in the life science industry, in the development of this exciting new business – label-free, real time cell-based assays,” said Dr. James O’Connell, ACEA Bioscience’s CEO. “Cell-based assay is a rapidly growing field with many applications in pharmaceutical research, life science research, and a large number of other rapidly growing areas.” Dr. O’Connell continued: “Our microplate-based biosensor platform will provide users with many advantages simply not possible with current technology, and will greatly improve their laboratory productivity. We look forward to working with Roche in this important new area.”

ACEA Bioscience’s design of electronic sensor, innovative methods for data acquisition and analysis, and optimized instrumentation design provide a unique platform for cell based assays with the potential to become a benchmark item for cell biology and molecular biology labs. The major advantages of the ACEA RT-CES and RT-CIM technology over conventional approaches include:

  • Label-free system
  • Real-time kinetics
  • Live cell quality control
  • High information content
  • Good sensitivity and reproducibility in monitoring an entire cell population in a culture well

ACEA`s technology integrates microelectronics with cell and molecular biology. The core of the system is a microelectronic biosensor array incorporated into each well of standard sized 16 and 96 well microplates. This permits the RT-CES® System to measure the activity of living cells in real time without any labels or reporters. Any number of cellular parameters such as attachment, spreading, growth, death, and even specific morphological changes can be simply and reliably detected.

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BiosensorsBiosensors are devices used to detect an analyte using biological molecules specific to the analyte coupled to a detector. Biosensor instruments may be photometric, typically using surface plasma resonance (SPR), electrochemical or QCM (quartz crystal microbalance) biosensors. Biosensors should be selective, portable, robust and sensitive and have a fast response time. Systems may be manual or automated and usually have associated software.Cell / Tissue CultureCell culture or tissue culture is used to study the biology of cells or tissues and to isolate cellular products in an environment which can be manipulated and well defined. Accurately control your culture environment with bioreactors or culture incubators, bind your cells to a surface or together with an extracellular matrix. Distinguish cell types with differential media or proliferate cells with certain characteristics using selective media. Enrich your media with supplements such as growth factors, sera and vitamins. Find the best cell and tissue culture products, kits and equipment in our peer-reviewed product directory: compare products, check customer reviews and receive pricing direct from manufacturers.MicroplatesMicroplates are multi-well plates used to increase the throughput of biological investigations. The number of wells microplates contain can range from 6 to 3243 wells, with the 96-well format being the most commonly used. Microplates can come tailored for a range of applications including cell culture, PCR, filtration, storage, non-binding surface, protein crystallization, as well as pre-coated, deep well and normal Standard microplates. Additionally, options for microplate colors include clear , black, white or black with clear bottom and white with clear bottom for absorbance microplate reader applications. Find the best microplates for your lab in our peer-reviewed product directory: compare products, check customer reviews and receive pricing direct from manufacturers.Assay AssemblyAssay Assembly is technique used in drug discovery to develop assays to test the cytotoxicity, genotoxicity, or other activities of a compound on a cell. Assay assembly requires chip assembly, a delivery system and a detection and analysis method. Beneficial features of assay kits or automated systems include high-throughput, high speed and sensitivity and low signal to noise ratio.Cell-Based AssaysCell-based assays are used to monitor the presence, quantity and activities of a desired cellular analyte including drug molecules or biomarkers. This can reveal information on cell health (apoptosis, cytotoxicity, viability and proliferation assays), cell metabolism, cell migration and cell signaling mechanisms. Find the best cell-based assay products, kits and equipment with our peer reviewed product directory: compare products, check customer reviews and receiving pricing direct from manufacturers.

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