A Medical Device Daily

BioMachines (Research Triangle Park, North Carolina), a company that develops automation tools for drug discovery, has launched a new services division – Applied Proteomics Services (APS) – through an agreement with the Proteomic Fractionation Group (PFG) of the University of Massachusetts Medical School (UMMS; Boston).

The new unit will work with UMMS researchers Sunny Tam, PhD, and Douglas Hinerfeld, PhD.

The APS group provides proteomic sample preparation, fractionation and mass spectrometry services to provide data quality, throughput and the ability to review, interpret and troubleshoot experimental outcomes, it said.

Tom Larrichio, BioMachines' CEO, said, “Monoclonal antibodies are a very exciting area where sales are projected to grow from a $15 billion market in 2005 to a $27 billion market in 2010. This is in addition to protein analysis required for small-molecule therapies. We are focused on this growing market by providing expertise in protein analysis through a fee-for-services model.”

BioMachines develops vision-enabled, small-liquid handling systems that automate complex laboratory workflows. Its products and services include automating front-end sample preparation for Matrix-assisted laser desorption/ionization mass spectrometry analysis, pathogen detection device development and proteomic services.

UMMS PFG provides proteomic analysis of protein mixtures derived from whole organisms, tissues, cells, sub-cellular fractions or partially purified mixtures for the discovery of biomarkers or toxicology safety markers, drug mechanism studies and technology validation.