PicoFrit® Nanospray Columns

Nanospray kit introduced at HPLC 2001, Beyond Genome

SAN JOSE, Calif. and CAMBRIDGE, Mass., June 19 -- Thermo Finnigan, a Thermo Electron (NYSE:TMO) business, and New Objective, Inc., which both supply essential products to proteomics research markets, are teaming up in a strategic supply agreement to introduce the NanoFlow Solutions Kit, which will greatly simplify the use of low-flow nanospray ionization for proteomics. The kit integrates New Objective's PicoTip(TM) technologies with Thermo Finnigan's LCQ (TM) series of ion trap mass spectrometers.

Nanospray ionization technology greatly reduces the amount of sample introduced into a mass spectrometer and enhances peptide detection. Thermo Finnigan and New Objective are announcing their agreement simultaneously this week at two industry conferences: HPLC 2001 in Maastricht, the Netherlands, and Beyond Genome in San Francisco.

``Nanospray offers significant advantages to proteomics researchers, but many have been hesitant to use the technology because of difficulty in setup and continuous control,'' said Dr. William S. Hancock, vice president and general manager of proteomics for Thermo Finnigan. ``This new consumables kit will make the technology accessible to a broader population of researchers.''

Emily Ehrenfeld, vice president of New Objective, said: ``PicoTip technology plays an important role within the pharmaceutical and biotechnology industry. New Objective and Thermo Finnigan share a commitment to supporting protein and drug discovery research.''

Under the agreement, New Objective will supply PicoTips, PicoFrits(TM) and TaperTips(TM) to be part of the Thermo Finnigan NanoFlow Solutions Kit. The kit will also include a Thermo Finnigan nanospray mounting system, liquid chromatography columns from Thermo Hypersil, fittings, tools, syringes, tubing and a manual that instructs proteomics researchers new to nanospray in how to set up and troubleshoot the technology. New Objective's proprietary, fused-silica PicoTip is widely regarded for its ability to deliver biological samples into an analytical instrument at stable, low-flow rates.

Proteomics is the study of protein expression, interaction and modification within organisms, including the human body. Disease states can frequently be traced to problems with proteins, so proteomics can accelerate drug discovery and can place effective new drugs into patients' hands more quickly.

New Objective is a premier manufacturer of nanospray tips used to introduce biological samples into mass spectrometers. The privately held company has headquarters in Cambridge, Massachusetts.

Thermo Finnigan is a leading supplier of total laboratory solutions for the analytical and life sciences industries. Product offerings include mass spectrometers, liquid chromatography equipment, gas chromatography equipment and multi-instrument combinations of these products, as well as a complete range of advanced software solutions.