Oxford GlycoSciences and Packard BioScience will co- develop protein biochips

Combining analytical proteomics and advanced dispensing/detection technologies

Oxford GlycoSciences (Oxford, UK) and Packard BioScience Co. (Meriden, CT) plan to combine their respective technologies to develop protein biochip microarrays for proteomics markets.

Microarrays are seen as the next major tool for analytical proteomics. "The market potential of protein microarrays is very large with applications from basic research to clinical diagnostic tests," said Oxford chief scientist Raj Parekh. "Packard has shown a real commitment to developing and expanding its micro-engineering and instrumentation technologies into the field of protein microarrays. With OGS's pilot protein microarray design and platform now well advanced, we are pleased to be able to partner with Packard BioScience for this next important step in proteomics."

Packard's biochip platform technologies include proprietary ink-jet microarray printing robots, Hydrogel chip substrates and confocal laser scanners, tools which both companies believe will enable the manufacture and use of protein microarrays. Recently, Packard has focused on such enabling technologies and has begun to exploit its deep patent portfolio in microfluidics through licensing agreements with other biochip manufacturers such as Motorola Inc.

For more information: Mike Zebarth, Packard Bioscience, 800 Research Parkway, Meriden, CT 06450. Tel: 203-639 2340.

Edited by Angelo DePalma
Managing Editor, Drug Discovery Online