Monash Antibody Technologies Facility Purchases Genetix ClonePix FL To Boost Monoclonal Antibody Discovery Program

Business Wire, Oct 3, 2007

NEW MILTON, UK -- Genetix, a leading developer of technologies for automated, high throughput cell identification and selection for the pharmaceutical, biotechnology and clinical diagnostics industries, today announced that the Monash Antibody Technologies Facility (MATF) at Monash University, in Australia has selected ClonePix FL technology to speed up the identification and isolation of thousands of cell lines for monoclonal antibody (MAb) production.

The MATF is one of the only high-throughput production facilities in the world offering custom-made, high-affinity monoclonal antibodies. A major application for the ClonePix FL technology at the MATF will be its proven ability to identify and isolate rare-event cell lines producing phosphopeptide specific MAbs. The new system is expected to significantly increase the MAb discovery capacity at MATF.

According to Alan Sawyer, director of MATF and founder of the world-renowned monoclonal antibody production facility for the European Molecular Biology Laboratory (EMBL) at Monterotondo, "we chose ClonePix FL as it enables us to screen thousands of discrete cell colonies and isolate only the high value clones. By having this level of selectivity, we can significantly shorten timescales, improve productivity, simplify downstream tissue culture and reduce costs."

The importance of MAbs is reflected by their breadth of use in diagnostic, therapeutic and research applications. They are used to detect cancers and infectious diseases; as vaccines to boost the body's immune response; and as therapeutic agents to target cancerous cells or to treat autoimmune diseases such as rheumatoid arthritis and multiple sclerosis. In the research world, the use of MAbs has proven crucial to the understanding of a myriad of physiological processes.

About Monash

Monash University (www.monash.edu.au) seeks to improve the human condition by advancing knowledge and fostering creativity. It does so through research and education and a commitment to social justice, human rights and a sustainable environment. The Monash Antibody Technologies Facility (MATF) is part of The School of Biomedical Sciences, the largest of three research nodes in the Monash University Faculty of Medicine, Nursing & Health Sciences. It has over 400 researchers, 285 higher degree research students and a research income of $43.5 million, plus an additional $5.6 million to support training research students. This year, the Australian Regenerative Medicine Institute (ARMI) and the MATF are two new Victorian state government supported initiatives that have been integrated into the School.

About Genetix

Based in New Milton, UK, Genetix (www.genetix.com) delivers pioneering, technological breakthroughs that give customers the competitive edge to find the cells and push the boundaries in biopharmaceutical and clinical research. Genetix offers the latest technologies for cell screening and selection, genetic testing and cancer pathology, protein science, microarraying, cell and liquid dispensing and a host of related reagents and consumables.

Genetix supplies major international Pharmaceutical and Biotechnology companies involved in the drug discovery process including GSK, Merck, Genentech, Wyeth, Novartis, as well as many leading academic institutions world-wide. The Company's achievements helped revolutionize cell biology, proteomics and genomics. It made a significant contribution to the Human Genome Project by supplying high-throughput equipment to seven of the leading eight laboratories of the consortium. Today, through its R&D expertise and scientific resource, Genetix is committed to the continual development of innovative solutions to accelerate the rate of cell based research.