Genalyte Teams with Scienion to Provide sciFLEXARRAYER Dispensers for Maverick Detection Platform

Genalyte, Inc., a life sciences company developing and commercializing innovative next generation multiplexing technology, and Scienion AG, a life science company developing microarray and ultra-low volume liquid handling systems, today announced an agreement under which Genalyte will market Scienion’s sciFLEXARRAYER™ automated liquid dispensers along with Genalyte’s multiplexed Maverick™ Detection System.

The Maverick platform uses a proprietary silicon chip containing arrays of photonic microring sensors to simultaneously analyze multiple proteins, DNA or biomarkers from a single small sample, using a one-step process that automates the washes, incubations, reagents and processing steps associated with other technologies.

Scienion’s sciFLEXARRAYERs are automated, non-contact dispensing systems for ultra-low volume liquid handling of biological samples. Genalyte is offering customers the sciFLEXARRAYER S5, a robust production unit designed for low maintenance, long term use as a flexible and dependable tool for manufacturing high quality arrays. The integrated dispense control and auto-drop function provide users with an easy-to-use, walk-away solution for a variety of liquid dispensing applications.

“After a rigorous search for an automated liquid dispensing system with the precision needed to spot sample material onto the Maverick system’s 30-micron rings, I am pleased to announce this agreement with Scienion,” said Cary Gunn, PhD, CEO of Genalyte. “The company’s dependable, ultra low volume liquid handling dispensers allow for highly precise, contact-free drop spotting and are well suited for microarray based applications. We now can offer our customers a comprehensive validated automated system for multiplexed detection and analysis.”

Under the terms of the agreement, Genalyte will market the sciFLEXARRAYER S5 dispenser to its customers and Scienion will retain responsibility for installing and servicing the sciFLEXARRAYER.

Dr. Holger Eickhoff, CEO of Scienion AG, commented, “As a leading provider of advanced automated liquid dispensing systems, we welcome the opportunity to collaborate with multiplexing innovator Genalyte. We view our products as highly complementary and look forward to a productive partnership.”

Separately, Genalyte announced the launch of its Custom Spotting Service. To provide scientists with maximum flexibility to design multiplex assay panels addressing their specific research needs, Genalyte is now offering a cost effective custom spotting service that will load proteins such as antibodies, peptides, biomarkers, cytokines and antigens supplied by customers onto Genalyte chips. The chips are then returned to the customer in the same ready-to-use chip array format used in Genalyte’s off-the shelf multiplex assay kits, ready to be run on the Maverick Detection System. The Maverick multiplex system can deliver results from small samples of many types, including serum, plasma, culture media and whole blood. For more information, visit www.genalyte.com/products/custom-chip-spotting/

The Maverick Detection System and its ENA 4 and ENA 6 Assay Kits are currently commercially available to researchers. The assays simultaneously screen for several of the most common autoantibodies found in autoimmune connective tissue disorders, such as systemic lupus erythematosus (SLE). Assay kits for advanced SLE testing, rheumatoid arthritis and Type I diabetes are available under the Genalyte Technology Access program. The simplified one-step workflow of the Maverick assays delivers accurate results in 15 minutes, and they can be run using very small volume samples from a variety of matrices, including serum and plasma. Semi-quantitative results are reported for each analyte, eliminating the need for reflex testing. The Maverick platform has a large dynamic range and excellent sensitivity, with outstanding reproducibility.

The Lab-on-a-Chip World Congress will be held September 25-26, 2012 in San Diego, CA. Information about Scienion and Genalyte products will be available at Booth 26 at The Lab-on-a-Chip World Congress on September 25-26, 2012 in San Diego, CA.