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Invitrogen Exclusively Licenses Novel Click Chemistry-Based Cell Proliferation Assays From Harvard University

Posted on: Monday, 10 December 2007, 09:00 CST

Invitrogen Corporation (NASDAQ:IVGN), a provider of essential life science technologies for research, production and diagnostics, announces the exclusive license of unique cell proliferation assays based on "click" chemistry from Harvard University. The license enhances Invitrogen's growing portfolio of intellectual property surrounding click chemistry, originally developed by Nobel Laureate K. Barry Sharpless' laboratory at The Scripps Research Institute in La Jolla, CA.

Click-iT™ labeling and detection technology uses a catalyst to "click" together chemical groups not normally found in biology. For example, the Click-iT™ EdU kit, based on the technology invented by Drs. Adrian Salic and Tim Mitchison at the Harvard Medical School Department of Systems Biology and licensed from Harvard, uses EdU, a modified nucleic acid subunit that can be taken up by actively dividing cells and incorporated into newly synthesized DNA. A fluorescent small molecule tag can then be snapped onto the EdU-labeled DNA to mark proliferating cells. This click reaction is extremely specific and efficient, and Click-iT™ tagged molecules retain biological function and are easily detected at extremely low levels in complex samples. Click-iT™ chemistry is suitable for multiple applications, including flow cytometry, fluorescence microscopy and high content screening.

"Click chemistry permits the labeling and detection of biological events that were previously impossible using standard methods," said Augie Sick, Vice President and General Manager of Invitrogen's Cellular Analysis Business Unit. "That's why we are pleased to have acquired Harvard's technology, which represents a significant advancement over conventional techniques and augments the power of our click chemistry. This advancement allows researchers to examine cell proliferation in parallel with other biomarkers thus enhancing the power of this fundamental method for assessing cell health, determining genotoxicity and evaluating anti-cancer drugs."

Invitrogen holds a license for click chemistry from The Scripps Research Institute and is assembling a broad portfolio of complementary intellectual property. In addition to the Scripps and Harvard licenses, Invitrogen has commercial licenses from the University of California, Berkeley, the National Institutes of Health and the California Institute of Technology to market Click-iT™ kits for glycoprotein profiling. These kits enable researchers to label subsets of glycoproteins in live cells, extracts or purified samples, and are compatible with mass spectrometry.

Invitrogen is developing additional Click-iT™ product line applications, including replacing radioactivity for detecting new protein synthesis.

"Traditional methods of specifically labeling cellular components require antibodies, which may be larger than the molecule a scientist is trying to visualize; this may compromise the function of that molecule," continued Sick. "On the other hand, direct fluorescent labeling will label your molecule of interest along with many others, making precise observations impossible. Click chemistry marries the specificity of antibodies with the flexibility of direct labeling, giving scientists new tools to probe into cellular function."

Click-iT™ technology is another example of how Invitrogen is broadening its cellular biology product line and cementing its position as the leading provider of reagents for protein and cellular analysis.

For more information please visit http://probes.invitrogen.com/edu.

About Invitrogen

Invitrogen Corporation (NASDAQ:IVGN) provides products and services that support academic and government research institutions and pharmaceutical and biotech companies worldwide in their efforts to improve the human condition. The company provides essential life science technologies for disease research, drug discovery, and commercial bioproduction. Invitrogen's own research and development efforts are focused on breakthrough innovation in all major areas of biological discovery including functional genomics, proteomics, bioinformatics and cell biology -- placing Invitrogen's products in nearly every major laboratory in the world. Founded in 1987, Invitrogen is headquartered in Carlsbad, California, and conducts business in more than 70 countries around the world. The company is celebrating 20 years of accelerating scientific discovery. Invitrogen globally employs approximately 4,700 scientists and other professionals and had revenues of more than $1.15 billion in 2006. For more information, visit www.invitrogen.com.

About Harvard University's Office of Technology Development

The Harvard Office of Technology Development (OTD) is responsible for all activities pertaining to the evaluation, patenting and licensing of new inventions and discoveries made at Harvard University and Harvard Medical School. OTD also serves to further the development of Harvard technologies through the establishment of sponsored research collaborations with industry. OTD's mission is to promote the public good by fostering innovation and translating new inventions made at Harvard into useful products available and beneficial to society.

About The Scripps Research Institute

The Scripps Research Institute is one of the world's largest independent, non-profit biomedical research organizations, at the forefront of basic biomedical science that seeks to comprehend the most fundamental processes of life. Scripps Research is internationally recognized for its discoveries in immunology, molecular and cellular biology, chemistry, neurosciences, autoimmune, cardiovascular, and infectious diseases, and synthetic vaccine development. Established in its current configuration in 1961, it employs approximately 3,000 scientists, postdoctoral fellows, scientific and other technicians, doctoral degree graduate students, and administrative and technical support personnel. Scripps Research is headquartered in La Jolla, California. It also includes Scripps Florida, whose researchers focus on basic biomedical science, drug discovery, and technology development. Currently operating from temporary facilities in Jupiter, Scripps Florida will move to its permanent campus in 2009.

Safe Harbor Statement

Certain statements contained in this press release are considered "forward-looking statements" within the meaning of the Private Securities Litigation Reform Act of 1995, and it is Invitrogen's intent that such statements be protected by the safe harbor created thereby. Forward-looking statements include, but are not limited to 1) The license enhances Invitrogen's growing portfolio of intellectual property surrounding click chemistry; 2) Click chemistry permits the labeling and detection of biological events that were previously impossible; 3) The technology will enable a significant advance over conventional techniques and augments the power of Invitrogen's Click chemistry, thereby allowing researchers to examine cell proliferation in parallel with other biomarkers; 4) The technology will enhance the power of this fundamental method for assessing cell health, determining genotoxicity and evaluating anti-cancer drugs; 5) Invitrogen is assembling a broad portfolio of complementary intellectual property; 6) Invitrogen is developing additional Click-iT™ product line applications, including replacing radioactivity for detecting new protein synthesis; 7) direct fluorescent labeling will label your molecule of interest along with many others, making precise observations impossible; 8) Click chemistry marries the specificity of antibodies with the flexibility of direct labeling, giving scientists new tools to probe into cellular function; 9) Click-iT™ technology is another example of how Invitrogen is broadening its cellular biology product line and cementing its position as the leading provider of reagents for protein and cellular analysis. Potential risks and uncertainties include, but are not limited to the risks that the market will not accept the companies' products and services, or that the companies will be unsuccessful in their efforts to develop new products and services, a) this click reaction may or may not be extremely specific and efficient; b) Click-iT™ tagged molecules may or may not retain biological function; c) Click-iT™ tagged molecules may or may not be easily detected at extremely low levels in complex samples; d) Click-iT™ chemistry may or may not be suitable for multiple applications, including flow cytometry, fluorescence microscopy and high content screening, as well as other risks and uncertainties detailed from time to time in Invitrogen's Securities and Exchange Commission filings.

Source: Business Wire

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