Promega Partners with ATCC to Offer New Cell Systems for Biologics Drug Discovery

Promega Corporation and ATCC (historically known as the American Type Culture Collection) have formed a partnership for the cell banking and bioproduction of cells to create a new line of bioluminescence-based drug discovery assays for biologics. In the partnership, ATCC will produce and authenticate cell banks and production lots of engineered and stock cell lines, which will be used as cellular reagents to create a new line of Promega cell assay systems for biologics. The initial cell assay system will facilitate biologics drug discovery.

Promega will launch an ADCC reporter bioassay in 2011 as the first product offering from this partnership. The ADCC (Antibody Dependent Cell-mediated Cytotoxicity) reporter bioassay will meet a particularly critical need for nearly all antibody-based biologics drug discovery programs worldwide. These and other custom cell system assays will provide reduced variability to bioassays for biologics. The ADCC and other bioassay systems are currently in alpha and beta testing programs for qualification by leading manufacturers of biologics drugs.

ATCC is the recognized leader in biological materials management and processes for cell provisioning. "We are extremely pleased to work with Promega in bringing their assay innovations to drug discovery researchers", said Dr. Sherry Challberg, Sr. Director of Corporate Development for ATCC. ATCC's President, Dr. Brian Pollok added, "We are excited to begin a venture of working with technology-based companies like Promega in the area of cellular assay product development." Promega's Vice President of Life Sciences Products and Services, Thomas Livelli commented, "We believe this new offering will be extremely helpful to scientists and provide high value cell-based systems for discovery and development."