News
September 20, 2007
The on-line addition of Science Magazine reports that BSI technology enables free-solution, label-free, molecular interaction kinetic and end-point assays at zeptomole levels of sensitivity, using a biosensor with a simple optical train comprised of a He-Ne laser, a microfluidic channel, and a position sensor.
View the Science Article
Press Releases
Molecular Sensing, Inc. and VIB Enter Agreement in Alzheimer's Disease Research
Aims to Characterize Substrate Recognition Mechanism and Screen for Potential Drug Compounds that Inhibit Amyloid Build-up
Montara, California, April 22, 2009 - Molecular Sensing, Inc. (MSI) today announced that it has entered into a Life Science Early Access Program (LEAP) research agreement with VIB to use MSI's proprietary Back-Scattering Interferometry (BSI) technology to study ligand binding to the membrane-bound γ-secretase complex, an alternative drug target in Alzheimer's disease (AD). The aim of the project is the characterization of the substrate recognition mechanism of the γ-secretase complex and to screen for potential drug compounds that inhibit amyloid build-up. Financial details were not disclosed.
Dr. Bart de Strooper of the VIB Department of Molecular and Developmental Genetics at the K.U.Leuven is a leading international expert in Alzheimer's research and was accorded the $200,000 MetLife prize in 2008 for his pioneering research. "Elucidation of the structure-function relationship of the active γ-secretase complex is important for understanding the basic biology and pathogenesis of AD. Development of APP-selective γ-secretase inhibitors is one of the major directions in AD therapeutics", says Dr. de Strooper.
"BSI is a breakthrough in molecular interaction assay technology, in particular, characterizing ligand binding to integral, membrane-bound proteins" said Scot Weinberger, MSI's President and Chief Executive Officer. "We are pleased to work with Dr. de Strooper and VIB to enhance their efforts and progress towards understanding the mechanisms of AD and elucidating new and improved therapeutics for its treatment."
About Molecular Sensing
Molecular Sensing, Inc. is an early stage biotechnology company, located in the San Francisco Bay area, dedicated to the commercialization of BSI molecular interaction instrumentation, services and applications that enable label-free in vitro biochemical and cell-based assays using kinetic and quantitative end-point analysis.
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 pharmaceutical R&D.
Molecular Sensing, Inc. Contacts:
Phone: 650-728-8110 US, +49 (171) 7604450 Europe,
Email: LEAP@molsense.com
www.molsense.com
About VIB
VIB is a non-profit research institute in the life sciences. Some 1100 scientists and technicians conduct strategic basic research on the molecular mechanisms that control the functioning of the human body, plants, and micro-organisms. Through a close partnership with four Flemish universities - Ghent University, the Katholieke Universiteit Leuven, the University of Antwerp, and the Vrije Universiteit Brussel - and a solid investment program. VIB unites the forces of 65 research groups in a single institute. Their research aims at fundamentally extending the frontiers of our knowledge. Through its technology transfer activities, VIB strives to convert the research results into products for the benefit of consumers and patients. VIB also develops and distributes a broad range of scientifically substantiated information about all aspects of biotechnology. More info at: http://www.vib.be.
About K.U.Leuven
The Katholieke Universiteit Leuven, founded in 1425, is one of the oldest universities in Europe. The university offers a wide range of programs of study, in Dutch as well as in English. In addition, the K.U.Leuven is an international management research center, with a good balance between fundamental and applied research in a variety of disciplines. The university has over 33,000 students, a tenth of which come from abroad. Over 17,000 people work at the university, about half of whom are employed by UZ Leuven, the university hospitals. More info at: http://www.kuleuven.be
Molecular Sensing, Inc. Enters into Agreement with Merck KGaA for Access to Novel Molecular Interaction Technology
Montara, California, June 9, 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
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
Molecular Sensing Inc. (MSI) Announces Technology Early Access Program Launch
MSI's Back-Scattering Interferometry (BSI) System to Be Used in Developing Diagnostic Platform for Detection of Infectious Diseases
Montara, California, April 28, 2008 - Today, Molecular Sensing, Inc. (MSI), an early stage biotechnology company, announced the launch of its Life Science Early Access Program (LEAP), designed to validate enabling applications of BSI technology and commercial instrumentation.
MSI is pleased to recognize The Centers for Disease Control's (CDC) National Center for HIV/AIDS, Viral Hepatitis, STD and TB Prevention as our first LEAP partner. The CDC plans to develop a diagnostic platform for detection of sexually transmitted diseases (STDs) and other infectious diseases. MSI has completed shipment of a pre-production molecular interaction assay system to the CDC to be used in the program.
MSI will cooperate with the laboratories of the CDC's Division of STD Prevention, as that group continues research in a variety of infectious disease programs. A three-way Cooperative Research and Development Agreement (CRADA) to further support infectious disease research using MSI's BSI technology is under development between MSI, the CDC, and the laboratory of Professor Darryl J. Bornhop, at Vanderbilt University.
Scot R. Weinberger, President & CEO of Molecular Sensing commented, "We are pleased that our first LEAP partnership is with the CDC and provides the means to demonstrate the value of BSI technology and MSI's system for infectious disease diagnostic applications".
The journal Science (September 21, 2007) recently reported that BSI technology, invented by Dr. Darryl Bornhop, Professor of Chemistry at Vanderbilt University, and exclusively licensed to MSI, enables homogeneous, label-free, and tether-free molecular interaction kinetic and end-point assays at zeptomole levels of sensitivity, using a biosensor with a simple optical train comprised of a He-Ne laser, a microfluidic channel, and a position sensor.
About Molecular Sensing
Molecular Sensing, Inc. is an early stage biotechnology company, located in the San Francisco Bay area, dedicated to the creation of molecular interaction products that deliver homogeneous label-free, tether-free kinetic and end-point assays. MSI's mission is to become a leader in the emerging field of Personalized Medicine, beginning with a focus on validating our technology in research applications involving biomarker discovery and assay development. Our initial market focus is in academic, government and industrial laboratories. While our first products are aimed at research use, our technology is particularly adaptable to hand-held point-of-care devices and assays for clinical diagnostics.
MSI's Life Science Early Access Program (LEAP) is a fee-based product early access program designed to provide a pre-production MSI molecular interaction assay system and customized collaboration agreement partnership with major laboratories in life science basic
and translational research, clinical diagnostics and pharmaceutical R&D to develop and validate enabling applications and instrumentation.
For more information, please see www.molsense.com.
Montara, California, September 21, 2007 - Today, Molecular Sensing, Inc. (MSI), a next generation biosensor company, announced it has been granted an exclusive license from Vanderbilt University to further develop and commercialize a new biosensor platform based on back-scattering interferometry (BSI). MSI plans to produce biosensor products for research, diagnostic, biodefense and pharmacogenomic applications. MSI is an early stage company located in Montara, California in the San Francisco bay area.
The on-line edition of Science reported today that BSI technology enables free-solution, label-free, molecular interaction kinetic and end-point assays at zeptomole levels of sensitivity, using a biosensor with a simple optical train comprised of a He-Ne laser, a microfluidic channel, and a position sensor.
Measurement of the rate and affinity of biomolecular interactions, such as protein-protein interactions, small molecule-protein interactions, DNA-DNA and DNA-protein binding, not only provides insight into basic cellular function, but can facilitate the development of therapeutics and diagnostics and serve as the basis for many research, diagnostic and pharmacogenomic assays.
Scot R. Weinberger, President & CEO of Molecular Sensing states, "Molecular Sensing's products will provide life science and medical researchers a platform that has significant advantages over ELISA as well as label-free, molecular interaction biosensor approaches such as microcalorimetry, surface plasmon resonance, and other wave-guide technologies. BSI provides zeptomole sensitivity, uses very small sample volumes (< 2 microliters), and requires little apriori knowledge of the molecular interactors, significantly accelerating assay development. BSI can measure over six logs of equilibrium dissociation constants, and operates in both free-solution and surface-bound modes."
Weinberger further states, "MSI plans to develop manual and automated, multiplexed systems for research, near-patient clinical diagnostic testing, as well as industrial and bio-defense point of analysis applications. Our first generation manual, benchtop research product is initially targeted for assay development in basic and translational research, pharmaceutical, and clinical diagnostic applications."
The company is seeking interested laboratories to participate in our fee-based, technology early access program in these areas.
About Molecular Sensing
Molecular Sensing, Inc., an early stage, next generation biosensor company, located in the San Francisco Bay area, is dedicated to the creation of molecular interaction products that deliver free solution or surface-bound, label-free kinetic and end-point assays. MSI's mission is to become a leader in the emerging field of Personalized Medicine, beginning with a focus on validating our technology in research applications involving biomarker discovery and assay development. Our initial market focus is in academic, government and industrial laboratories. While our first products are aimed at benchtop research use, our technology is particularly adaptable to hand-held point-of-care devices and assays for clinical diagnostic as well as biodefense point-of-analysis applications. For more information, please see www.molsense.com.
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