Amnis Corporation

PrimaDiag is a start-up developing tools to automate biological processes for diagnostics and research

The firm aims to provide powerful tools based on microelectronic technology to scientists involved in basic molecular biology research. Investigating the biological actions of molecules "in vitro" on cultured cells is a fundamental step for drug development and for basic life sciences. Routine techniques for intracellular delivery are high-cost and time-consuming procedures involving the use of a large amount of the candidate molecule and a stochastic interpretation of the results. Thanks to an combination of cell and molecular biology with semiconductor technology the company developed a new technique overcoming these limitations.

This company, formerly known as Sceptor, is a global diagnostics, biological collection and detection systems company dedicated to improving the quality of life and world safety by meeting the needs of multiple markets, including research, clinical, environmental and biodefense diagnostics.

Solidus Biosciences is a company that received a STTR Phase II grant for a project entitled: Development of a Lead Optimization Chip for Drug Discovery. Their award is funded under the American Recovery and Reinvestment Act of 2009 and their project will address further development and commercialization of a multi-enzyme lead optimization chip (Multizyme Chip) for high-throughput generation of lead compound analogs coupled with cell-based screening for the rapid identification of biologically active derivatives. Such a capability directly impacts a key bottleneck in drug discovery; namely, the efficient optimization of lead compounds to develop drugs with optimal pharmacological properties. Solidus Biosciences, Inc. proposes to combine six biocatalysis with pharmacological screening to provide rapid identification of biologically active compounds against cell-specific targets, which is a new paradigm for lead optimization. Moreover, the Multizyme Chip platform will be well-suited for lead optimization in related industries, including agrochemicals, cosmetics, and cosmeceuticals. The Solidus technology will thus improve the competitiveness and efficiency of the pharmaceutical, cosmetics, and chemical industries, and will serve as a rich source of new and improved commercial products. The broader impacts of this research are the advances that Solidus Biosciences will achieve toward generating better and safer drugs, reducing the cost to develop these drugs, and increasing the overall efficiency of the pharmaceutical industry. Solidus will generate Multizyme Chips for purchase by pharmaceutical and biotechnology companies to facilitate their lead optimization programs, particularly those involving natural product-derived and complex synthetic small molecule leads. Cryopreservation techniques developed in Phase II will enable the sale of chips and chip-handling devices produced during Phase I, and will allow seamless penetration of the Solidus technology platform into the company's target markets. Solidus Biosciences is a company that received a STTR Phase I grant for a project entitled: Development of a Lead Optimization Chip for Drug Discovery. Their research project aims to develop a new method for generating lead compounds by using enzymatic modification of compound sets. Availability of new methodology to generate biologically active compounds from existing molecules may enhance the success of the drug discovery process and may lead to the discovery of new and useful therapeutics. Solidus Biosciences is a company that received a STTR Phase I grant for a project entitled: High-Throughput RNAi Screening of Mammalian Cells. Their research project aims to develop a system for the rapid screening of siRNAs that can inhibit genes involved in cellular responses such as hyperosmotic stress that can affect pathways of high commercial importance, including protein production. Use of hyperosmotic stress as a proof of concept system will demonstrate the feasibility of high-throughput RNAi screening and will at the same time yield results that can be used to improve monoclonal antibody production in commercial and laboratory settings Production of biopharmaceuticals such as antibodies is exquisitely responsive to the culture conditions under which the cells are grown and thus can be improved through optimizing such settings, which in turn, would affect the genes involved in the specific synthetic pathways of interest. Development of a rapid methodology to identify inhibitory RNA molecules that can inhibit genes that adversely affect yield would be of significant importance to pharmaceutical companies that produce protein therapeutics and may result in a lowering of the const of these therapeutic entities.

Gahaga Biosciences was founded in 2006 to commercialize a method for the isolation of stem cells from placental and umbilical tissues to be used in basic research. Gahaga Biosciences intends to provide stem cells to the research and commercial markets which are valued as a potential source of a range of types of tissue. Many scientists say embryonic stem cells are generally more versatile than adult cells, although they continue to explore the possibilities of adult stem cells. The company believe that placental and umbilical stems cells are an ideal model system for conducting basic research on cell differentiation and regulation. Gahaga Biosciences seeks to supply researchers with materials to focus on the basic mechanisms of stem cell differentiation - how stem cells make the decision to move from their stem cell state into a more committed phenotype. Gahaga also seeks to exploit the company's experience in other methods such as pancreatic islets.

Invivo Sciences technology aims to bridge the gap in preclinical research performed using animal models and cell culture systems. Per the company, the advances in lab-automation coupled with the company's expertise in tissue engineering allows InvivoSciences to commercialize fast, reliable, and cost effective screening systems.