MOLECULAR SENSING, INC. ENTERS INTO AGREEMENT WITH MERCK
KGaA FOR ACCESS TO NOVEL MOLECULAR INTERACTION
TECHNOLOGY
MONTARA, CALIFORNIA, June 9th, 2008.
Molecular Sensing, Inc. (MSI) today announced that it has entered into an extensive Life
Science Early Access Program (LEAP) agreement with Merck KGaA, Darmstadt,
Germany, acting on behalf of its division for innovative prescription pharmaceuticals,
Merck Serono, to evaluate proprietary MSI Back-Scattering Interferometry (BSI)
technology. The cooperation will evaluate BSI technology and MSI instrumentation
related to drug discovery, development, and research applications. Financial details were
not disclosed.
As reported by Bornhop, et al., in Science (September 2007), BSI technology uniquely
enables homogeneous assays of molecular interactions at zeptomole sensitivity.
Measurements are made in solution to determine affinity constants between associating
molecules, free of coupling to spectroscopic labels or tethering to a chip surface.
BSI validated assays include protein binding to metal ions, drugs, peptides, or other
proteins, antigen-antibody association, and DNA-protein or DNA-DNA binding, in
serum, cell lysates, and cell free media with microliter sample volume and picomolar
sensitivity.
“BSI is a breakthrough in molecular interaction assay technology,” said Scot Weinberger,
MSI’s President and Chief Executive Officer. “We are pleased to work with Merck
Serono, a leader in pharmaceuticals comprising biologics and drugs, to investigate the
potential benefits that BSI technology and MSI products can bring to their
pharmaceutical discovery, research, and development programs.”
About Molecular Sensing, Inc.
Molecular Sensing, Inc. is an early stage biotechnology company, located in the San
Francisco Bay area, dedicated to the creation of molecular interaction instrumentation
and applications that enable homogeneous in vitro biochemical and cell-based assays,
that are label-free and tether-free, using kinetic and end-point analysis. Its initial market
focus is in academic, government, diagnostic and pharmaceutical laboratories.
MSI’s Life Science Early Access Program (LEAP) is a fee-based early access program
designed to provide customized collaboration partnerships with major laboratories in
basic life sciences and/or translational research, clinical diagnostics, and pharmaceutical
R&D. LEAP collaborations are intended to help MSI develop and validate enabling
applications as well as to advance the development of its instrumentation.
Molecular Sensing, Inc. Contacts:
LEAP Partnerships: 650-728-8110, EAP@molsense.com
Investors: Scot Weinberger, 650-728-8111, sweinberger@molsense.com