Arrayjet has expanded its workforce by 30 per cent over the past year due to growing demand for its inkjet microarray printing instruments due to the many "new and developing applications in DNA, protein and nanotechnology microarraying."
"We have seen considerable success for our product range, since it provides the flexibility needed both in terms of the range and the inkjet printing technology used. Marathon, Super Marathon and our latest Sprint microarrayers are now established in the market as high quality, reliable, products," said Duncan Hall, Arrayjet's commercial director.
Celera has entered into a research collaboration with Ipsen to develop biomarker and pharmacogenomic tests for growth failure patients.
The first stage of the collaboration will focus on the discovery and characterisation of genetic markers relating to the disease which, if successful, will lead to the development of diagnostic predictor's for use in Ipsen's clinical trials.
These could then form the basis of companion diagnostic tests for Ipsen's 'short stature' therapeutics.
"We're pleased to enter this collaboration with Ipsen as it further reinforces Celera's pharmacogenomic endeavors," said Dr Thomas White, Celera's chief scientific officer.
"This is another example highlighting the importance of diagnostic and pharmaceutical companies working together to improve therapeutic availability through the practice of personalized disease management."
Inverness Medical Innovations is to acquire New Jersey, US -based ParadigmHealth for $230m cash.
Not content to sit on its laurels after completing the acquisition of Biosite for $1.7bn (€1.25bn) in May the company has continued to splash the cash with the acquisitions of QAS, Alere Medical and Cholestech Corporation.
"The acquisition of ParadigmHealth is a significant step in our strategy to become a leader in disease and health management services. When combined with our prior acquisitions of QAS and Alere, ParadigmHealth will contribute to our goal of enabling individuals to manage their health effectively," said Ron Zwanziger, CEO of Inverness.
Plasticell has secured £690,000 of investment, including £250,000 from the Capital Fund and £440,000 form the company's existing shareholders. The new funding will help Plasticell develop its innovative stem cell and drug screening product lines.
This latest round of investment follows on from the £1.1m grant the company received from the UK's Department of Trade and Industry's Technology Programme in January to support the development of automated stem cell systems.
According to the company, the potential market for tissue types grown from stem cells in the pharmaceutical industry is enormous.
"A pharmaceutical company might approach us and say that they are developing a new drug that targets a disease of the central nervous system. We can help develop tissue that exactly matches the neurons which the new drug would be targeting, enabling the pharma company to measure the effectiveness of that drug at an early stage" said Dr Yen Choo, CEO of Plasticell.
According to reports in the Handelsblatt newspaper, Qiagen plans to make further acquisition in the diagnostics segment to further strengthen its position in the area after its $1.6bn purchase of Digene in June.
Apparently, the company will continue to focus on molecular diagnostics for discovering diseases within genetic material.
ThalesNano is to collaborate with researchers from the Christian Doppler Laboratory for Microwave Chemistry (CDLMC) at the Karl-Franzens-University in Graz, Austria to develop applications that combine flow and microwave chemistry techniques.
The collaboration will be jointly funded and will focus on the development of flow reactors for organic chemistry synthesis.
"We joined forces with one of the leading research laboratories in Europe for the application of our technologies. This will enable us to jointly develop novel methods and environmentally friendly solutions with our technology," said Dr Laszlo Urge, CEO of ThalesNano.
"The Christian Doppler Laboratory for Microwave Chemistry under the leadership of Professor C. Oliver Kappe has proven over the last several years how the adaptation of new technologies can impact the development of science and technology in the field of chemistry. We expect that the collaboration results in further innovations."
