Orchid Biocomputer, Advanced BioAnalytical Services Will Collaborate on Discovery, Pharmacogenetics
How about a complete analytical system (separations and mass spec) on a credit card sized device? That's the goal of a new collaboration between Orchid Biocomputer (Princeton, NJ) and Advanced BioAnalytical Services, Inc. (Ithaca, NY). The two companies have entered a five-year collaborative research and marketing agreement to develop novel microfluidic chip technologies. The announcement made by Orchid's Senior Director of Business Development, Sheila DeWitt, during her presentation at the Lab Automation 99 conference in San Diego, CA in February.
As discovery collaborations go this one is unusual, since it pairs two small, relatively new companies, both with novel technology: Orchid specializes in microfluidics used in "lab-on-a-chip" analytical devices, while Advanced BioAnalytical's claim to fame is equally miniaturized electrospray liquid chromatography/mass spectrometry (LC/MS). The two firms hope to combine their instrumentation into a single product offering unprecedented speed, small footprint, and accurate identification of drug compounds.
According to Orchid, the proposed instrument platform will characterize as many as 10,000 compounds in just five days, while using less than one-fiftieth the sample material currently required. As such this idea has tremendous potential in screening combinatorial libraries produced by microsynthesizers, as well as single nucleotide polymorphisms—SNPs—(part of Orchid's pharmacogenetics program). Orchid claims that chip interfaces will drive down the cost of primer extension for SNP genotyping.
Under the terms of agreement, Orchid gains exclusive rights to the jointly developed technology for the integration of synthesis and analysis. Orchid will pay an undisclosed sum to ABS upon the achievement of specific milestones over the course of the collaboration. Upon successful development of the new biochip products, the companies will share collaboration and product revenues. Commercialization will be led by Orchid.
"This is a key strategic step for Orchid, as we continue to become a fully integrated drug discovery company," DeWitt said. "Products resulting from this collaboration will begin to address emerging bottlenecks in the discovery process, including drug metabolism and pharmacokinetics, by providing significantly enhanced throughputs, cost containment and quality assurance enabled by the microfluidic capabilities of both companies."
Jack Henion, president of ABS, described the synergistic aspects of the agreement as enabling his company to "apply its expertise in electrospray LC/MS technology to the rapid characterization of combinatorial chemical libraries."
ABS was founded in 1993 to conduct LC/MS analyses in support of drug discovery and development programs for the pharmaceutical industry. By focusing on this technology, ABS has established one of the most technologically innovative LC/MS laboratories in the world. ABS provides analytical services to 15 of the world's 25 largest pharmaceutical companies and is developing microchip-based electrospray LC/MS technology for drug discovery applications. The company employs fifty scientists and engineers, most of whom hold advanced degrees.
Orchid Biocomputer was founded in 1995 to develop and commercialize microfabricated systems for chemistry and the biosciences. By leveraging the same technologies used to design computer chips, Orchid is designing microfluidic platform technologies capable of transforming high-throughput chemical synthesis, biochemical assays and DNA and pharmacogenomic analysis in drug discovery and diagnostics.
Orchid applies microfabrication processes (similar to those used in the semiconductor industry) in glass, silicon and other materials to create three dimensional structures. Contained within these devices are small capillary channels less than a millimeter wide, which distribute reagents, test samples and other fluids throughout the chip.
The chip also contains micropumps that, when turned on, allow the fluid in the capillary channel to flow past a capillary valve and fill the associated well. This programmability of the distribution of liquids within the chip provides users with a powerful tool for combining reagents to create new chemical compounds. The micro-format minimizes reagent waste and reduces the requirement for complicated networks of valves and tubing.
For more information: Jack Henion, President, Advanced BioAnalytical Services, Inc., 15 Catherwood Rd., Ithaca, New York 14850. Tel: Tel: 607-266-0665. Fax: 607-266-0749.
By Angelo DePalma