Molecular Devices Introduces Third IMAP(R) Substrate Finder for Kinases

Molecular Devices Introduces Third IMAP(R) Substrate Finder for
Kinases 


SUNNYVALE, Calif., March 21  /PRNewswire-FirstCall/ -- Molecular Devices
Corporation (NASDAQ:MDCC) today announced the introduction of its third IMAP(R)
Substrate Finder for kinases, following the launch of its first two in 2004. 
The IMAP Substrate Finder products are essential tools for the identification
and characterization of optimal kinase substrates, and enable researchers to
significantly accelerate their kinase assay development for known and
newly-identified kinases. Together the three IMAP Substrate Finders provide an
array of more than 150 kinase substrates that cover representative kinases for
all areas of the human kinome.

The Substrate Finders are based on Molecular Devices' IMAP platform, which
provides advanced tools for assay development and high throughput screening
(HTS) of kinases, one of the most important target classes in drug discovery
today. In pharmaceutical and biotechnology companies, it is estimated that over
20% of the drug discovery efforts are focused on protein kinase inhibitors.  A
wide range of diseases, including cancer, inflammation, diabetes, congestive
heart failure and neurological damage, are related to kinase malfunction.
Finding tools that can provide quick, reliable solutions for targeting kinase
inhibitors is critical to the acceleration of the drug discovery process.

"The pharmaceutical industry has recognized the therapeutic potential of
protein kinase inhibitors. For example, there are several successful cancer
drugs on the market that inhibit kinases, such as Gleevec(R) and IREESA(TM),
and approximately 25 protein kinase inhibitors in different stages of clinical
development," stated Susan Clark, Director of Reagents Marketing at Molecular
Devices. "Drug development in this area is in its infancy and with over 500
protein kinases in the human kinome, it represents a major opportunity for new
drug targets.  Furthermore, the scientific and technical design of the IMAP
platform allows researchers to move through assay development, screening and
hit evaluation with virtually any kinase. We are pleased that IMAP continues to
be the preferred platform to screen for kinase activity."

Protein kinases play a broad role in cell signaling and are involved in almost
every major cellular process.  Since kinases are involved in so many vital
cellular processes, they are inextricably linked to onset and progression of
many disease states. Researchers are aggressively seeking new novel drug
compounds to inhibit the kinases responsible for these diseases. One of the
major roadblocks facing pharmaceutical and biotechnology companies is in the
early stages of assay development when searching for a suitable kinase
substrate. The IMAP Substrate Finder accelerates this difficult task by
providing a quick, sensitive, yet inexpensive method to screen dozens of
substrates in a couple of hours versus days or weeks.

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 IMAP Substrate
Finder products. 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 other risks detailed from time to time in the
Company's SEC reports, including its Annual Report on Form 10-K for the year
ended December 31, 2004.  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/ 

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