Molecular Devices Introduces Its Next-Generation No-Wash, Cell-Based Calcium Assay Kit For GPCR Screening

SUNNYVALE, Calif., July 10  /PRNewswire-FirstCall/ -- Molecular Devices Corporation (NASDAQ:MDCC), a leader in innovative solutions for drug discovery and life sciences research, today introduced its next-generation no-wash calcium flux assay -- the FLIPR Calcium 4 Assay Kit.  Molecular Devices' cell based, no-wash calcium kits, first introduced in 1999, have become the standard for GPCR screening in laboratories worldwide. This new kit includes a masking technology licensed exclusively by Molecular Devices from Bayer AG (Leverkusen, Germany; Patent Nos. US 6,420,183, EP 0906572).

Calcium flux assays are considered one of the most important screening techniques for GPCRs in pharmaceutical drug discovery, and all major pharmaceutical companies utilize Molecular Devices' FLIPR system for these assays. The FLIPR Calcium Assay Kits -- Calcium, Calcium 3 and now Calcium 4 -- use homogenous mix-and-read, no-wash protocols. These kits accurately and easily detect intracellular calcium flux from different cell types and receptors. The kits offer different formulations to address a broad range of targets, including challenging systems, such as chemokines, for small peptides, and transient, endogenous and low-expression receptors that are difficult to assay with standard methods.

"Our vision is to continually innovate our masking dye technology to ensure that researchers have a range of assay configurations to use with the complex family of GPCRs. The FLIPR Calcium 4 Assay Kit is the latest addition to our calcium assay options," stated Susan Clark, Director of Reagents Marketing at Molecular Devices.  "This kit contains a novel masking dye, which combines higher light extinction in the extracellular solution, contributing to an overall lower background and higher signal that benefits assays with especially small calcium responses." Clark continued, "Furthermore, the inert nature of this novel masking dye results in reduction of interference between ligands or targets and the dye."

The FLIPR fluorometric imaging plate reader and the FlexStation(R) benchtop microplate reader are optimal instruments to run the FLIPR calcium assays for rapid detection and analysis. The throughput is increased by eliminating labor-intensive wash steps and is conducive to automation for high-throughput screening as it functions at room temperature.

Molecular Devices Corporation is a leading supplier of high-performance bioanalytical measurement systems that accelerate and improve drug discovery and other life sciences research.  The Company's systems and consumables enable pharmaceutical and biotechnology companies to leverage advances in genomics, proteomics and parallel chemistry to facilitate the high-throughput and cost-effective identification and evaluation of drug candidates.  The Company's solutions are based on its advanced core technologies that integrate its expertise in engineering, molecular and cell biology and chemistry. Molecular Devices enables its customers to improve research productivity and effectiveness, which ultimately accelerates the complex process of discovering and developing new drugs.

This press release contains "forward-looking" statements, including statements related to the prospects for or potential customer use of the FLIPR Calcium 4 Assay Kit. Any statements contained in this press release that are not statements of historical fact may be deemed to be forward-looking statements. Words such as "believes," "anticipates," "plans," "expects," "will," and similar expressions are intended to identify forward-looking statements. There are a number of important factors that could cause the results of Molecular Devices Corporation to differ materially from those indicated by these forward-looking statements, including, among others, risks related to the development of new products and their commercial acceptance, and other risks detailed from time to time in the Company's SEC reports, including its Quarterly Report on Form 10-Q for the quarter ended March 31, 2006.  Molecular Devices Corporation does not undertake any obligation to update forward-looking statements. 

DATASOURCE: Molecular Devices Corporation



CONTACT:  Tim Harkness of Molecular Devices Corporation, [phone]



Web site:  http://www.moleculardevices.com/ 

Copyright