Gyrolab xP will be used for immunogenicity, pharmacokinetics, cGMP testing, and biomarkers.

EMD Millipore has purchased a Gyrolab™ xP workstation for its biopharma services organization. The microfluidic technology will allow EMD Millipore to miniaturize assays for all service programs including immunogenicity, pharmacokinetics, cGMP testing, and biomarkers.

“As a contract service organization to pharma, our reputation is founded on quality, reliability, and cost-effectiveness,” remarks Christina Shasserre, head of discovery and development solutions for EMD Millipore. “To this end we are continually looking for solutions that enhance our throughput and output to exceed our customers’ expectations. The Gyrolab workstation is an integral part of this equation.”

Ron Bowsher, chief scientist for biopharma services at EMD Millipore, adds, “In our evaluation of the Gyrolab xP workstation, we were particularly impressed with the system’s high level of accuracy, rapid method development and validation, and delivery of robust assays—even in 50% matrix. Incorporating Gyrolab technology into our offering will give us a competitive advantage for servicing the fields of pharmacokinetics, antidrug antibody, and host-cell protein testing.”

EMD Millipore is among the first contract service organizations in the U.S. to buy a Gyrolab workstation. “We see EMD Millipore’s investment as strong confirmation that our offering delivers what is important to our customers,” says Erik Walldén, CEO at Gyros. “From a company perspective, this signals a growing acceptance of our technology, and a major step in our expansion within the U.S. market.”

Gyros leverages microfluidic technologies to miniaturize and automate immunoassays. The company has around 60 employees, with headquarters in Uppsala, Sweden, regional sales and support offices in the U.S. and Europe, and a growing network of distributors.

Gyrolab xP workstation is designed to ensure that samples and reagents are accurately transferred from microplates to each microstructure within a Gyrolab Bioaffy CD and that each CD spins at precisely the correct speed and time to ensure optimal reaction times. Each step in the assay workflow is controlled through the Gyrolab Control module. Results are evaluated using the Gyrolab Evaluator module or exported to other softwares such as a LIMS system.

EMD Millipore is the life science division of Merck KGaA and offers a range of products, services, and business relationships to enable its customers’ success in research, development, and production of biotech and pharmaceutical drug therapies. The segment was established as a result of Merck’s $7 billion acquisition of Millipore, which closed in July. Headquartered in Billerica, MA, the division has around 10,000 employees, operations in 64 countries, and had pro forma 2009 revenues of $2.9 billion.

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