Definiens and Cenix BioScience Enter Into Licensing and Co-Marketing Agreement in High-Content Screening
The two companies’ offerings are ideally complementary and the agreement will therefore build on their inherent synergies. Cenix is providing research services for the life science industry and academic groups, focusing on the combination of high throughput (HT) RNAi with high content (HC) assays in human and rodent cells. For those groups capable of carrying out such large scale studies themselves, Definiens is providing its uniquely powerful image analysis software system, Cellenger®, based on Definiens’ Cognition Network Technology.
As Cenix has constantly sought to further strengthen its capabilities in microscopy-based screening and automated image analysis, its scientists have tested a wide range of third party solutions from academia and industry efforts alike. Its early analysis of Cellenger® software in the context of genome-scale RNAi-based screens in human cells convinced Cenix to invest further efforts in assisting Definiens with the development and marketing of this world-class package.
“The combination of these technologies will be crucial to solidify Cenix’ leadership in providing the best and most efficient high content read-out capabilities to our customers” said Christophe Echeverri, CEO/CSO of Cenix BioScience.
Definiens, having recognized Cenix’s leading global position in the field of HT/HC-RNAi based experimentation, has welcomed such specialized input on precisely those cell-based applications that have now emerged a key driver for a wide range of life science research fields.
“Through this alliance, we begin realizing the strong synergies that exist between Definiens and Cenix in the field of high-content screening”, said Thomas Heydler, Chief Executive Officer of Definiens. “With our leading-edge Cellenger® HCS solution we offer a comprehensive application for automated image analysis and our collaboration with Cenix will allow us to reach a new form of excellence in the HCS market.”
Cenix BioScience is using Cellenger® for the development and implementation of multi-parameter assays for HT-RNAi studies in cultured human and rodent cells for target discovery and validation, as well as analyses of drug modes of action. Under the terms of the agreement Cenix gets broad access to Cellenger® software, which will be integrated into its existing HT/HC-RNAi-based research infrastructure, enabling the widest possible range of advanced microscopy-based assays in the context of its research service offerings.
The Definiens Cellenger® HCS solution is an advanced software system for the powerful automated high-content analysis of cell-based assays that enable reliable and fully automated data extraction. The Cellenger® HCS solution allows detailed analysis of structures of interest even in complex image data and the extracted objects are counted and morphometrically measured. Definiens will receive product development and marketing assistance from Cenix through beta-testing feedback, data sharing and reference site support. Commercial terms of the worldwide, non-exclusive agreement were not disclosed.
About Cenix BioScience
Cenix BioScience GmbH is a pioneer and leader in high throughput (HT), genome-driven applications of RNA interference (RNAi) for the discovery and validation of new therapeutic drug targets. Founded in 1999 as the first biotechnology company specializing exclusively in HT-RNAi, Cenix has accumulated unparalleled depth and breadth of experience in this field, combining high content phenotypic analyses with proprietary genome-wide RNAi libraries for use in key experimental systems, including a wide range of human and rodent cells. Cenix is now making its unique expertise accessible to industry and academic researchers through highly customizable research services. Please contact Cenix or visit the company’s web site www.cenix-bioscience.com for more information.
About Definiens
Definiens is a leading provider of high-content image analysis solutions. Based on Definiens Cognition Network Technology®, a fundamental technology which models human thought, Definiens products enable the extraction of objects of interest from biomedical images. Main applications are in drug research and other biopharmaceutical processes. Definiens more than 100 customers in the field of life sciences are companies such as Altana, Aventis, Intervet, Merck, Novartis, and Novo Nordisk as well as Academia & Research Institutions such as NGFN and NIH. Founded in 1994 by Nobel Prize Laureate Prof. Dr. Gerd Binnig, Definiens today has 40 employees and is based in Munich, Germany. For further information regarding the company and its products please visit www.definiens.com.
More Information:
Cenix BioScience GmbH
Zisi Fotev, Ph. D.
Tatzberg 47
01307 Dresden, Germany
Tel: +49-(0)-351-4173-0
Fax: +49-(0)-351-4173-197
Email: fotev@cenix-bioscience.com
Definiens AG
Andrea Muller-Beilschmidt
Tel : +49-(0)89-23-11-80-36
Mobile : +49-(0)171-76-66-518
Fax : +49-(0)89-23-11-80-90
Email: pr@definiens.com
Source: Cenix BioScience GmbH
