'Off the Shelf' fragment library for drug discovery lead generation

Thermo Fisher Scientific Inc has announced that the Maybridge Ro3 Diversity Fragment Library is now available in a new prepared format, with each compound pre-dissolved as a DMSO solution.

A gold standard for lead generation, the Maybridge Ro3 Diversity Fragment Library contains a broad range of 1,500 compounds, many of which are small-molecule pharmacophores available only from Maybridge. Manufactured and selected specifically to meet 'Rule of Three' requirements, these fragments are an ideal first step in pharmaceutical lead development.

The new ready-to-use format offers complete user convenience, saving time on sample and stock solution preparation. Available in three 500-compound sets, each compound in the library is pre-solubilised as a 1ml 10mM solution, providing 10µMol of 95 percent purity pharmacophore dissolved in analytical grade DMSO. The libraries are also available at higher concentrations upon request to meet specific customer needs.

The Maybridge Ro3 Diversity Fragment Library is provided in standard, automation-compatible, matrix tube and latch-rack formats and is also available pre-packaged to fit any standard microplate footprint, with cap mat seals for automated, high-throughput applications. Each compound has a Tanimoto similarity index of 0.66, allowing for superb structural diversity across the library. The library contains a large number of compound fragments that are linker friendly, enabling them to be incorporated into larger drug molecule backbones.

Maybridge

Thermo Fisher Scientific

Quality control strains

Thermo Fisher Scientific today announced that all of the quality control strains recommended in the new EUCAST (European Committee on Antimicrobial Susceptibility Testing) harmonized disc diffusion method for antimicrobial susceptibility testing are available as Oxoid Culti-Loops.

The Culti-Loops range of quality control organisms, which includes all EUCAST-recommended strains, are disposable bacteriological loops containing stabilized, viable microorganisms, supplied in packs of five. Each loop is individually foil-wrapped and ready-to-use, designed for quick, easy and safe preparation of standardised cultures.

The Oxoid antimicrobial susceptibility testing product range also includes Oxoid antimicrobial discs for all of the antimicrobial compounds recommended in the EUCAST method. The recommended culture medium (Mueller-Hinton Agar) is available in dehydrated or various prepared media formats (with and without defibrinated horse blood and NAD). Ergonomically-designed disc dispensers, for the accurate placement of discs onto a variety of agar plate sizes (90, 120 and 140mm); and the Oxoid Turbidometer, for accurate preparation of 0.5 McFarland inoculums, are also available.

Thermo Fisher Scientific

Liver toxicity testing solution for drug development

Thermo Fisher Scientific Inc today introduced the ToxInsight DILI Assay Cartridge, a groundbreaking new tool for assessing the liver toxicity risk of chemical compounds. It will help pharmaceutical companies improve their productivity by better assessing liver toxicity early in the drug development process, specifically reducing the risk of drug-induced liver injury (DILI) – the primary reason for post-market drug withdrawal.

Designed to be used with the Thermo Scientific ToxInsight IVT image cytometry platform, the ToxInsight DILI Assay Cartridge identifies drug induced hepatotoxicity by simultaneous detection of multiplexed toxicity biomarkers in single cells. It includes all the reagents, assay protocols, analysis and data reporting capabilities to profile compounds for hepatotoxicity with high sensitivity and specificity. The cartridge has been extensively validated with a known hepatotoxic compound 'truth-set' on a range of hepatic cell-lines, including rat and human primary hepatocytes.

Deploying critical analytical technologies in the lab

Thermo Fisher Scientific Inc offers a selection of handheld analytical instruments that is now among the industry's most diverse, serving
applications ranging from airport security and consumer product testing to supply chain integrity and industrial hygiene. The company continues to build on its strategy of translating analytical technologies proven in the lab into handheld instruments for use in the field.

"Increasing global trade and travel, interconnected supply chains and increasing environmental and consumer product safety awareness have created a demand for technology that is mobile, easily deployed and accurate," said Greg Herrema, senior vice president and president, Analytical Instruments, Thermo Fisher Scientific. "Our handheld analytical instruments align perfectly with our company's mission. We enable customers to make the world healthier, cleaner and safer through our depth of capabilities in handheld technology, which impact everything from quality control in pharmaceuticals to air and water quality testing and the safety of the traveling public."

Thermo Fisher Scientific to highlight Maybridge Fragment-based drug discovery solutions

Maybridge Fragment Solubility Poster

Thermo Fisher Scientific Inc today announced that it will exhibit its Maybridge Fragment collections and present a related scientific poster, “A High Throughput Technique for Rapid Measurement of Fragment Solubility,” during Fragments III, the 3rd annual RSC-BMCS Fragment-Based Drug Discovery conference (Stevenage, England, March 7-8).

The poster describes the use of the Stem Clarity solubility station to experimentally validate fragment solubility values in both DMSO (200mM) and aqueous phosphate buffer. Such analyses have been used to affirm compound quality and further enhance the success rate of hits generated by the Maybridge Ro3 Fragment collection. Scientists from Maybridge will be available on stand E at the Stevenage Fragments III meeting to discuss the work presented on the poster and other aspects of fragment-based drug discovery.

Maybridge compound libraries represent a gold standard in molecular fragment libraries and include the Ro3 Diversity library, Fragment collection, Bromo-, Fluoro- and Pre-Fragment collections. Maybridge prides itself on having the in-house scientific expertise to provide the highest-quality products and services for fragment-based drug-discovery needs.

For more information on the poster please visit: www.maybridge.com/Images/pdfs/MB_poster_GlobalC_09_V02.pdf.

Maybridge

Thermo Fisher Scientific

iPhone App to simplify GC Column selection

Thermo Fisher Scientific Inc today announced the release of a free GC Column Selector app for iPhone. The new app helps GC chromatographers select the ideal Thermo Scientific GC column for either existing or regulated methods based on their current configuration. It provides a quick cross-reference for Thermo Scientific TRACE columns to GC columns from other manufacturers. Customers can simply insert their existing column part number or select a current column from the supplied list and the intuitive app recommends the best TRACE GC Column for each application.

The Thermo Scientific GC Column Selector iPhone app puts details about a wide array of phases offered in the Thermo Scientific TraceGOLD GC column range at chromatographers’ fingertips. Furthermore, the convenient application enables point-of-use column selection and the added functionality of contact information for sales or technical enquiries.

To download the free Thermo Scientific GC Column Selector app for iPhone, see www.thermoscientific.com/tracegold

Webinar: Procalcitonin (PCT)

Thermo Fisher Scientific is holding a webinar entitled "How to Incorporate Procalcitonin (PCT) into your Facility's Sepsis Initiative", 24 February 2011 - 4pm EST.

The speaker is Kirsten R. Pyle-Springer, RN, CCRN, CNRN, Sepsis Coordinator at Surgical/Neuro/Trauma Intensive Care Unit, Mission Hospital in Mission Viejo, California.

Awareness of Sepsis is growing thanks in part to efforts like the Surviving Sepsis Campaign (SSC). In this webinar, Ms Pyle-Springer discusses this trend and the risk of Sepsis in critical care settings. She also discusses Procalcitonin (PCT) and how this sensitive biomarker can serve as an important adjunct to the SSC guidelines as part of a multi-point strategy for improving the management, diagnosis and treatment of Sepsis.

Please visit  https://procalcitonin-testing.ilinc.com/register/xttbfmc to register.

Thermo Fisher Scientific to launch informatics offerings

Thermo Fisher Scientific Inc will showcase its new informatics offerings at PITTCON 2011, being held from March 13-18 at the Georgia World Congress Center in Atlanta. The advances in the new laboratory information management system (LIMS) solutions facilitate compliance with industry guidelines such as ISO 17025, and other procedural requirements such as GMP while delivering time and cost-savings to scientists and lab managers supporting process industries.

In addition, the company will showcase a new feature rich field solution that has been specifically developed for laboratory professionals working in water and environmental testing laboratories. The company will also exhibit its full range of informatics solutions, including laboratory information management systems (LIMS), chromatography data systems (CDS), electronic laboratory notebooks (ELN), document management systems (DMS) and Spectroscopy software.

LC/MS Compendium to share environmental and food safety testing knowledge

Thermo Fisher Scientific Inc has announced a new, comprehensive and searchable compendium entitled "LC-MS Applications for Food, Beverage and Water Testing."

The compendium designed as a knowledge transfer tool, provides customers with access to the wealth of application expertise developed by Thermo Fisher.

Containing a variety of testing methods and technical applications for environmental and food testing laboratories, the free digital compendium is available free of charge at www.thermoscientific.com/lcmsfoodnotes.

Thermo Fisher's workflows comprised of automated sample preparation, instrumentation and data management products, enable lab professionals to perform the right analysis using the best technique when responding to environmental and food safety challenges.

The new compendium shares Thermo Fisher's knowledge about the analysis of contaminants such as pharmaceutical and personal care products, drug residues, natural compounds and pesticides. The comprehensive compendium of LC/MS methods and applications is easily searchable by compound class, matrix or product.

"Our environmental and food safety solutions including our leading mass spectrometry systems are tailored to the unique requirements of residue laboratories and we want to share this expertise with all our customers," said Dipankar Ghosh, PhD, strategic marketing manager for environmental and food safety solutions at Thermo Fisher Scientific. "We designed the LC/MS compendium specifically for environmental and food testing laboratories to help them improve and simplify their operations."

Thermo Fisher Scientific

Method uses GC-MS/MS to increase number of pesticides detectable in single injection

Thermo Fisher Scientific Inc. has announced it has developed a faster screening method for pesticides, enabling labs to simultaneously screen and confirm the presence of more than 1000 pesticides, at low levels, using a single injection.

Other commonly used techniques require multiple injections in order to comply with increasingly stringent regulations. The new method, which uses the Thermo Scientific Quantum GC, can acquire 3,000 timed selective reaction monitoring (SRM) transitions per run, increasing sample throughput while ensuring accuracy in a matrix. The method, detailed in an application note entitled "Rapid Analysis of 303 Pesticide Residues in Green Bean Using Triple Quadrupole GC-MS/MS," is available via www.thermoscientific.com/303.

Pesticides used to prevent, destroy and control pests on food crops often leave residues on agricultural products that pose risks to consumers. Effects range from short-term health problems such as headaches and dizziness to long-term damage to the nervous system and, in some cases, cancer.

Post-market surveillance and vigilance for diagnostics

Thermo Fisher Scientific today announced that Colin Booth, director regulatory affairs – microbiology (Oxoid and Remel brands), will speak at the forthcoming European Diagnostic Performance Evaluation & Regulatory Conference, to be held in Brussels, Belgium January 24-25, 2011.

The conference theme is “Understanding and Appreciating the Evolving Regulatory Path for Diagnostic Tests and the Clinical Challenges in Sample Size and Design to Support European Regulatory Approvals.”

Calibration validation carousels streamline performance verification

Thermo Fisher Scientific Inctoday announced the launch of its new Calibration Validation Carousel (CVC) accessories for the Evolution series UV-Visible spectrophotometers enabling automated performance verification and adherence to pharmaceutical guidelines.

Automated performance verification saves significant time and money by reducing the amount of hands-on time required to complete instrument qualification and testing. Operator hands-on time is reduced to only a few minutes; dramatically improving productivity. All of the Thermo Scientific CVC accessories automate testing for wavelength accuracy andreproducibility, photometric accuracy, resolution, stray light, photometric noise and baseline flatness in accordance with US or European pharmacopeia and GxP procedures.

The CVC has specific features to increase accuracy and reduce operation time. Each CVC is supplied with its own unique serial number matched to a data file containing the calibrated value of the standards and the instrument specifications. This feature reduces the potential for
transcription and calculation errors by eliminating the need to copy standard values, perform and validate calculations and analyze performance test data. To perform testing with a CVC, the user simply selects the desired tests from a software menu, presses the test button to run them and returns to collect the results when the tests are complete. Thermo Scientific software generates a full report, which can be signed electronically and printed for insertion into the user's compliance log book.

Thermo Scientific CVCs are available in USP- or EP- configurations for pharmacopeia compliance. A standard configuration CVC is also available for routine analysis and general instrument performance verification testing.

All configurations of the CVC are compatible with the Evolution 201, 220 or 260 Bio, Evolution 300 and Evolution 600 UV-Visible spectrophotometers.

Thermo Fisher Scientific

Centrifuge for large-volume blood banking and bioprocessing

Thermo Fisher Scientific Inc, the world leader in serving science, today announced the new Thermo Scientific Sorvall RC 12BP Plus Centrifuge, a large-capacity, high-throughput floor standing centrifuge for blood banking and bioprocessing applications.

With a maximum capacity of 12L, the centrifuge can process up to 12 blood bag systems (up to 500 mL) or six 2000 mL Thermo Scientific Nalgene bio-bottles. Run-to-run reproducibility is ensured by the Accumulated Centrifugal Effect (ACE) function, which automatically compensates for any variations in acceleration due to full or partial rotor loading. Precise control of acceleration and deceleration rates ensures that sample integrity is retained, even during delicate low-speed pelleting applications.

Rheology and spectroscopy in simultaneous measurements

Thermo Fisher Scientific Inc today introduced Rheonaut, a compact FT-IR module for its Thermo Scientific HAAKE MARS rheometer platform. The company will showcase the new Rheonaut module at the K show, the world’s largest trade fair for the plastics and rubber industry. The event takes in Düsseldorf, Germany, from Oct. 27 – Nov. 3, 2010.

German-based Resultec analytical equipment developed the Rheonaut module for exclusive resale by Thermo Fisher Scientific. When used with the HAAKE MARS rheometer platform, it helps users understand the causes of rheological properties on a microscopic level. Dynamic rheometry and FTIR spectroscopy can be employed simultaneously to monitor a structure development during the reactive processing of a sample and to detect interactions in contrast when used in parallel. This enables customers to optimize their products by adapting formulations more quickly.

Rapid culture method identifies Salmonella species in duck eggs in two days

Thermo Fisher Scientific Inc today announced that its Oxoid Salmonella Precis culture method provides fast and reliable detection of Salmonella species in food, animal feed and environmental samples. In light of the recent outbreak of Salmonella Typhimurium DT8 in Ireland, linked with the consumption of duck eggs, food testing laboratories require methods which can rapidly and accurately identify salmonella species in food. The Oxoid Precis method delivers dependable analytical results in just two days, which is up to three days faster than conventional Salmonella culture methods.

Drug fingerprinting via HPLC/MS salt forms method

Thermo Fisher Scientific has developed a method for the identification, confirmation and quantitation of illicit drugs and their salt forms. This unique method combines high-performance liquid chromatography with mass spectrometry (HPLC/MS) to provide accurate simultaneous separation and detection of cations and anions in illicit drug salt forms.

The technique enables drug salt forms to be precisely identified and confirmed by two independent parameters - retention time and mass spectral signature, allowing forensic drug chemists to reliably analyze seized materials.

Interactive product catalogue simplifies selection of clean containers

Thermo Fisher Scientific Inc has launched an online, fully-interactive version of its EP Scientific Products Catalogue.

EP Scientific cleans, packages and certifies its sample collection and storage containers in accordance with the EPA’s regulatory guidelines. The product brochure, downloadable from www.epscientific.com provides simple navigation and product selection for customers wishing to order from the extensive range of EP Scientific contaminant-free containers.

Microplate mover for perifusion system

Thermo Fisher Scientific Inc today announced it has been selected by Biorep Technologies Inc to provide the Thermo Scientific Orbitor RS microplate mover for incorporation into its new Perifusion system.

The Orbitor RS, launched this year at LabAutomation, has been developed using proven technology from the well-known Thermo Scientific RapidStak and Thermo Scientific Dimension4 product lines. The Orbitor RS, which is now being used as a partner to the Perifusion system, is unmatched in its reliability, flexibility and speed, delivering a plate in as little as four seconds.

Screening collection helps identify compound that holds promise in anti-inflammatory medicine

Thermo Fisher Scientific Inc today announced that the Maybridge HitFinder screening compound collection has helped scientists at the University of Minnesota identify and characterize a small-molecule inhibitor that holds promise for the development of anti-inflammatory drugs.

Professor David Bernlohr, Distinguished McKnight University Professor and Head of the Department of Biochemistry, Molecular Biology and Biophysics at the University of Minnesota, and his team used the HitFinder collection in studies of fatty-acid-binding protein (FABP) inhibitors. The collection was an invaluable tool in helping the team identify several strong leads – compounds that hold the potential for blocking FABP – which is part of the body’s inflammatory and metabolic response pathways. Ultimately, from this library they identified HTS01037, a pan-specific FABP inhibitor with broad anti-inflammatory properties. This study was recently published by Prof Bernlohr and his team1.

Microbiology assay detects Listeria species in environmental samples in 8 hours

Thermo Fisher Scientific today announced that the DuPont Qualicon BAX System Reverse Transcriptase 8-hour Listeria Assay is now available alongside the Oxoid range in Europe, Canada, Australia and New Zealand.

The assay allows food companies to detect environmental Listeria spp. in less than 8 hours – saving more than two days on traditional detection methods and allowing problems to be swiftly identified, ultimately helping companies avoid product recalls and processing line shutdowns.