GeneProt and Zymark reach automation technology agreement for U.S. and EuropeNorth Brunswick 04 March 2002 GeneProt Inc. and Zymark Corporation have entered into an agreement in which Zymark is named as an exclusive automation provider to GeneProt in the U.S. and Europe. Concurrently with this agreement, Zymark will make an equity investment in GeneProt.
The agreement provides for GeneProt to make an initial purchase of Zymark automation technologies. GeneProt will install two Zymark Staccato Proteomics Systems at its new industrial-scale proteomics facility in North Brunswick, currently being constructed, and two additional systems at its proteomics discovery and production centre in Geneva, Switzerland.
GeneProt has also granted Zymark non-exclusive licensed access to specific research discovery content for Zymark's internal use that is not competitive with GeneProt or GeneProt's pharmaceutical and diagnostic partners. Zymark will also have the right of first negotiation to use this research discovery content to develop and sell consumable application kits for the life sciences market. GeneProt and Zymark will also collaborate on the development of next generation automation instrumentation.
The Staccato Proteomics System provides a key interface to GeneProt's industrial scale proteomics processes. Each system will automate in-gel protein digestion, all liquid handling steps as well as prepare protein and peptide samples for direct analysis by mass spectrometry. At the heart of each system are Zymark's Sciclone Advanced Liquid Handler, Twister II Advanced Capability Microplate Handler, TurboVap Concentration Workstation, and automated Incubator 44. Each of these components is connected and managed by Zymark's revolutionary CLARA system integration software.
"Further automation of GeneProt's protein identification and analysis processes brings additional speed and accuracy to the work we undertake for our pharmaceutical partners", stated Cedric Loiret-Bernal, M.D., GeneProt's chief executive officer. "This is key to the delivery of synthesised proteins with high potential in the development of new human therapies."
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