Frost & Sullivan Recognizes DiscoveRx’s Innovative Assay Technology for Drug Screening and Overall Achievements in Intact Cell-Based Assays
PALO ALTO, Calif., Sept. 7 /PRNewswire/ — Frost & Sullivan selected DiscoveRx Corp. as the recipient of the 2006 Frost & Sullivan Award for Technology Innovation for its development of the PathHunter(TM), an innovative protein trafficking platform technology. In its simplest format, this assay system allows users to monitor signaling pathways using translocation in whole cells. Today, DiscoveRx offers a broad range of assays and services for evaluating compound effects on various cellular pathways including their most recent addition, PathHunter Beta-Arrestin assays for GPCR activation.
PathHunter is based on the DiscoveRx’s proprietary technology platform: Enzyme Fragment Complementation (EFC) technology. EFC has been used to develop a series of highly validated biochemical HTS assays for GPCR, Kinases and Proteases. PathHunter is a modification of this highly versatile platform into a cell based format. PathHunter represents the first chemiluminescence assay technology that can measure protein trafficking directly inside the cell and act as a liaison between in vitro biochemical assays and the more complex multiparameter imaging technologies.
“Screening technologies that are faster, more cost effective and that provide biological rich information are always sought after,” says Frost & Sullivan Research Analyst R. Srimathy. “PathHunter offers several benefits that position it to be the assay technology of choice.”
For instance, it allows the user to reduce the complexity of using cell- based assay to simple microtiter plate formats. PathHunter assays (as well as HitHunter assays) are homogeneous in nature, one- or two-step reagent addition assays, which do not need any cell washing or cell fixation steps.
Furthermore, the assays are compatible with many different cell types and especially suited for cell types most commonly used in high throughput screening (HTS) settings (Chinese Hamster Ovary [CHO], Human Embryonic Kidney [HEK]).
Some of the main advantages of DiscoveRx’s technology for cell-based assays are increased throughput in 384 well formats, compatibility with luminescent plate readers, and delivery of luminescence output for reduced interference from fluorescent compounds.
The PathHunter is also readily adaptable to automated screening and performs novel HTS assay for new classes of compounds. It has a simplified method for sample preparation and offers a wide range of assays such as translocation, degradation, secretion protein: protein interaction and membrane trafficking.
The PathHunter platform allows scientists to detect protein trafficking without any form of imaging features and it is highly cost effective, that is, the cost involved is only a fraction of the cost involved in using the normal green fluorescent protein (GFP)-based assays. Furthermore, the technology can also be miniaturized and used for 1536 format.
“DiscoveRx is being increasingly recognized in the pharmaceutical and biotechnology sector for creating advanced assays for G protein-coupled receptors (GPCRs), kinases, and other drug target classes,” notes Srimathy. “The company’s in vitro biochemical and cell-based assays will help accelerate drug discovery and development even as the PathHunter technology is being used to look at other protein movement.”
In summary, the Frost & Sullivan Award for Technology Innovation recognizes DiscoveRx for its introduction of an innovative technology platform, the PathHunter, and its overall work on intact or lysed cell-based assays for GPCR, kinases, proteases, and nuclear hormone receptors.
Each year Frost & Sullivan presents this Award to a company that has demonstrated and carried out new research, which has resulted in innovation(s) that have or are expected to bring significant contributions to the industry in terms of adoption, change, and competitive posture. This Award recognizes the quality and depth of a company’s research and development program as well as the vision and risk-taking that enabled it to undertake such an endeavor.
Frost & Sullivan Best Practices Awards recognize companies in a variety of regional and global markets for demonstrating outstanding achievement and superior performance in areas such as leadership, technological innovation, customer service, and strategic product development. Industry analysts compare market participants and measure performance through in-depth interviews, analysis, and extensive secondary research in order to identify best practices in the industry.
About DiscoveRx Inc.
Founded in 2000, DiscoveRx is a privately held, venture-backed company headquartered in Fremont, California, with an additional office in Birmingham, England. The Company pioneered the use of Beta-galactosidase enzyme fragment complementation in biochemical and cell based assays for discovery research, and holds extensive intellectual property in this area. DiscoveRx is dedicated to the development and commercialization of innovative solutions to study GPCRs, Kinases and other major drug target classes, and many of their innovative products have been widely adopted in pharmaceutical and biotech drug screening laboratories worldwide. For more information on DiscoveRx products, please visit http://www.discoverx.com
Contact: Ms. Sailaja Kuchibhatla 1-510-979-1415 ext.104 (skuchibhatla@discoverx.com) About Frost & Sullivan
Frost & Sullivan, a global growth consulting company, has been partnering with clients to support the development of innovative strategies for more than 40 years. The company’s industry expertise integrates growth consulting, growth partnership services, and corporate management training to identify and develop opportunities. Frost & Sullivan serves an extensive clientele that includes Global 1000 companies, emerging companies, and the investment community by providing comprehensive industry coverage that reflects a unique global perspective and combines ongoing analysis of markets, technologies, econometrics, and demographics. For more information, visit http://www.awards.frost.com or http://www.drugdiscovery.frost.com .
Contact: Stacie Jones 210.247.2450 Stacie.jones@frost.com
