Amersham Pharmacia Biotech and Beckman Coulter To Collaborate on DNA Sequencing Technology

<%=company1%> (Sunnyvale, CA) and Beckman Coulter, Inc. (Fullerton, CA) have agreed to collaborate on developing Beckman Coulter's capillary electrophoresis technology for DNA sequencing. The technology is currently used in Beckman Coulter's CEQ 2000 DNA analysis system as well as in Amersham Pharmacia Biotech's MegaBACE 1000 DNA sequencer. The new agreement extends an ongoing relationship between the two companies that has been established through cooperative efforts on several projects, including the Long Read LPA matrix for MegaBACE 1000 and the automated plate storage and handling for Amersham Pharmacia Biotech's LeadSEEKER drug discovery system.

"Under this latest agreement, Beckman Coulter and Amersham Pharmacia Biotech will collaborate to develop capillary coatings and matrices to meet the unique requirements of CE in DNA sequencing and fragment analysis applications," explained Keith Offord, Director of the Genetic Analysis Development Center for Beckman Coulter.

The CEQ 2000 from Beckman Coulter is an eight capillary sequencer and fragment analyzer designed for the medium-low throughput market, whereas the 96-capillary MegaBACE from Amersham Pharmacia focuses on high throughput sequencing and genotyping. Each company will continue to commercialize their own products.

Amersham Pharmacia Biotech, which is owned 55% by Nycomed Amersham plc (London) and 45% by Pharmacia & Upjohn Inc, develops and markets innovative systems used to sequence genes, uncover the structure and function of genes and proteins, separate biomolecules, screen potential drugs and manufacture biopharmaceuticals.

Beckman Coulter, Inc. is a provider of instrument systems and complementary products that simplify and automate processes in life science and clinical laboratories. The company's products are used throughout the world in medical research and drug discovery.

Contact: Beckman Coulter, Inc., 4300 N. Harbor Blvd., Fullerton, CA 92834-3100, Phone: 714-871-4848 Fax: 714-773-8283, Toll Free: 800-233-4685.