MOUNTAIN VIEW, California USA : ACLARA BioSciences (Nasdaq: ACLA)
announced today that it has entered into an eTag(TM) Access Agreement
with Pfizer, Inc. (NYSE: PFE). Pfizer scientists will gain access to ACLARA's
proprietary eTag Assay System for use in their pharmaceutical discovery
research. The agreement is structured to cover two of Pfizer's research sites
over the course of two years. Pfizer will access ACLARA's custom assay
development capability and services, as well as utilize eTag assay
reagent products and software for multiplexed gene expression and protein
profiling studies.
'We are very pleased to have Pfizer as an eTag
Assay customer,' said Thomas Klopack, ACLARA's chief executive officer. 'We
feel that Pfizer's decision to make ACLARA's eTag Assay System a part of
its drug discovery process is an indication of the power of this technology and
the value it provides. The sensitivity, efficiency, flexibility and high
throughput capacity of eTag assays will help accelerate the discovery
and development process."
About the eTag Assay System
The eTag Assay System is a high
performance, high throughput system for the simultaneous measurement of 10's to
100's of genes, proteins, and cell-based antigens across thousands of samples.
The eTag platform makes it possible for researchers to measure multiple
aspects of a complex biological system, enabling the study of gene expression,
protein expression, cell signaling and pathway activation, protein-protein
interaction, post-translational modifications and cell receptor binding - all
in the same sample and with the same platform. The system uses ACLARA's
proprietary eTag reporters to multiplex the analysis of genes and/or
proteins. Specific molecular binding events result in the release of
electrophoretically distinct eTag reporters, which are then resolved by
standard capillary electrophoresis to provide precise, sensitive quantitation
of multiple analytes - directly from cell lysates of cultured or primary cells,
as well as fresh and fixed tissue samples.
ACLARA's eTag Assay System is being
commercialized for use both in drug discovery research and to support
preclinical and clinical development of specific targeted therapies. These
programs allow scientists to utilize eTag reagent products, software,
and services. For multiplexed gene expression, ACLARA uses eTag
Multiplex InvaderŽ Assays, which incorporate Invader technology and CleavaseŽ
enzyme and are licensed for use from Third Wave Technologies, Inc.
About ACLARA
ACLARA BioSciences, Inc. is developing advanced
tools for drug discovery and development using its proprietary eTag
assay platform. The Company's products provide researchers with
decision-critical information for drug development, which previously was
difficult or impossible to obtain. The solution-phase eTag Assay System
is cost-effective, easy-to-use and flexible, and enables highly accurate,
precise and sensitive analysis of genes and/or proteins from limited amounts of
biological samples. Importantly, researchers can use their existing instrument
platforms to perform eTag analyses. More information on ACLARA can be
obtained on the Company's web site at www.aclara.com.