The following is a wrap-up of news of interest during
the months of September to October 2000.Compex Launches Web-Enabled UniLab 4i LIMS
Compex has announced the release of Unilab 4i, a web-enabled version of
their Unilab 4 LIMS. This new version halps organizations deal with critical
issues in laboratory communications and customer service by making it easier
and quicker to share information with internal as well as external customers.
Unilab 4i has been designed to manage the workflow in the laboratory and
to optimize the collection, analysis, retrieval, and reporting of laboratory
data. It is a modular system that can be configured to comply with the specific
needs of each laboratory. For details, visit http://www.compex-group.com
LabVantage Sapphire' Fully Supports
US FDA 21 CFR Part 11 Electronic Signature Compliance
LabVantage Solutions, Inc. has announced that LabVantage Sapphire fully
supports US FDA 21 CFR Part 11 Electronic Signature in its latest release.
The US FDA issued regulations (21 CRF Part 11) that govern the acceptance
of electronic signatures and handwritten signatures attached to electronic
records. To comply with this regulation, Sapphire can (1) ensure the uniqueness
of each combination of user ID and password; (2) verify that an individual
is allowed to perform a given system function; (3) log failed access to
the system (all log entries should include time/date, user ID, device ID,
meaning of action, and success/failure); (4) capture electronic signatures
at "save" points and record links to the signature in all database
records; and (5) use secure, computer-generated, time-stamped audit trails
for creation/deletion/modification of electronic records. For additional
information, visit http://www.labvantage.com.
RTS-Enabling Technology Appoints Dennis LeTendre
as Vice President
RTS-Enabling Technologies has appointed Dennis LeTendre as Vice President
for the Lab Solutions Group. Dennis has over 20 years experience in the
LIMS field, and previously worked for PE Nelson and Analytical Automation
Specialists in various business and sales/marketing positions. RTS-Enabling
Technology supplies software services and products for enterprise-wide LIMS
solutions. For details, visit http://www.enabletech.com
First Brazilian Order for Thermo LabSystems'
Nautilus LIMS
Fabrica Carioca de Catalisadores S.A. (FCC) of Santa Cruz near Rio de
Janeiro has become the first Brazilian customer of Thermo LabSystems' Nautilus
LIMS. Their decision to select Nautilus was made in a move to improve processing
and reporting of FCC's quality control laboratory data. Fabrica Carioca
de Catalisadores S.A. (www.fccsa.com.br)
is a leading catalyst manufacturer in the southern hemisphere for refining
and petrochemical and is jointly owned by Akzo Nobel (40%), Oxiteno Nordeste
(20%) and Petrobas (40%). FCC's manufacturing facility is located adjacent
to two major refineries and the Petrobas R&D Center. The FCC evaluation
management team considered Nautilus simple to configure, requiring no specific
Oracle skills from users. Among other features that attracted FCC was Nautilus'
Workflow functionality that enables users to map their own procedures graphically
onto the LIMS. Easy subsequent modification to workflows in Nautilus was
a further feature popular among FCC's users. FCC's future plans include
integrating Nautilus with their Enterprise Resource Planning (ERP) software,
in addition to increasing the number of user licenses to exploit productivity
benefits more widely across their laboratory. For additional information,
visit http://www.labsystems.com
NuGenesis Technologies Releases Enhanced Archival Tool
NuGenesis Technologies Corporation has released NuGenesis ARCHIVE version
4.0 for the automated archival of laboratory data. This new release provides
users with enhanced features such as faster archive scans and enhanced vendor
support as well as a simplified user interface that makes finding and restoring
files easier. Version 4.0 continues to support compliance with FDA regulations
such as 21 CFR Part 11. Raw data files that were unmanageable before are
now automatically catalogued, safely stored, and can be restored with ease.
For details, visit http://www.nugenesis.com
Sequencer Software Available for ABI Prism
BioLIMS
Applied Biosystems has announced the availability of Sequencer Software
for their ABI Prism BIoLIMS Genetic Information Management System. Sequencer
Software is used in genetic research for fragment assembly, contig editing,
vector and transposon screening, open reading frame (ORF) andlysis, protein
translations, restriction mapping, and heterozygote identification. Developed
by Gene Codes Corporation, this is a special version of the Sequencer DNA
analysis software that was designed specifically for the ABI Prism BioLIMS.
For details, visit http://www.pecorporation.com
Zymark Now Focused on Eliminating Drug Discovery
Bottlenecks
Zymark Corporation -- which has been undergoing a company-wide reinvention
since 1996 -- has selected drug discovery as their area of corporate focus.
They are now focused on simplifying and industrializing drug discovery by
providing advanced technologies, testing platforms, and productivity tools
that accelerate life sciences R&D by making laboratories faster, more
efficient, and more productive, according to president and CEO Kevin Hrusovsky.
In particular, the organization is focused on laboratory automation across
the entire drug development pipeline, including genomics and proteomics,
compound management, screening, and ADME/toxicology. For details, visit
http://www.zymark.com
ChemIndustry.com Announces New Search Services
ChemIndustry.com has launched a series of new search services that enable
industry professionals to perform full-text seareches of its proprietary
database of more than 25,000 industry-relevant web sites representing more
than 5 millions pages of filtered information. It has also debuted two specialized
search services: E-Deals, which helps users identify e-commerce opportunities,
and a Chemical Synonym Name Finder. For details, visit http://www.chemindustry.com
New Market Analysis Report on Genomics Available
D&MD Reports has Released a new Market Analysis Report on Gemonics entitled
"Genomics 2000: Drug Development in the Post-Genomic Era". Written
by Mary Ortner, the report provides a general introduction to the science
of genomics, current genomic technologies, research goals, the Internet,
the business of genomics, and diagnostics. In-depth profiles of genomics
and associated companies are included. The 450+ page report is available
in CD-ROM and print versions/ and costs $4950 apiece or $8000. for both.
For details, visit http://www.drugandmarket.com
MS Office Macros and Visual Basic Source Code
for Barcode Font Automation Now Available
IDAutomation.com has made MS Office macros and source code available at
its website for free dowwnload. The free tools allow technical users and
software developers to integrate modern barcode font technology directly
into their business applications instead of having to export data to a proprietary
label program. MICR, OCR, and older bar code technologies are easy to print
as a font. However, most modern implementations of barcodes require complicated
check digit calculations for error correction that cannot be performed by
the fonts themselves. The tools and source code at the IDAutomation.com
web site will perform the proper calculations required and format the return
string for the selected barcode font. For details, visit http://www.idautomation.com
RTS Enabling Technology Announces Version
2.0 for C14 iLIMS
RTS Enabling Technology has announced the completion and pending release
of Version
2.0 of C14 iLIMS. This release enhances C14 iLIMS for use in QA/QC and contract
analytical
laboratories for general manufacturing and environmental industry. While
many of the features have been available for some time as part of minor
upgrades to Version 1.0, the 2.0 Version brings all of these together, along
with important new features that convert C14 iLIMS to a fully configurable
system. Some significant new features include: generic specification hierarchies;
full function macro language; user definable calculations for complex formula
creation; automated scheduler utility; full QC sample support; and, sample
object browser. For details, visit http://www.enabletech.com.
Compex Launches Product Specification System
for Process Industries
Compex has launched a new product specification system for process industries
called speCX. SpeCX supports the exchange and standardization of product
specifications in any environment. It can be the "single point of reference"
for product data throughout the company, and also has the ability to supply
data to various other systems (ERP, MES, LIMS, etc.). SpeCX can also provide
product data to business partners and has the potential to become an essential
part of the supply chain and e-commerce solutions. For additional details,
visit http://www.compex-group.com
LabVantage Solutions' High Throughput BioInformatics
Solution Selected by Genaissance Pharmaceuticals, Inc.
LabVantage Solutions, Inc. has announced that Genaissance Pharmaceuticals,
Inc. has selected the LabVantage Sapphire LIMS as their key information
solution to manage the discovery of novel targets and drugs that exploit
genome variation. The LIMS will provide information tools to enhance Genaissance
Pharmaceuticals' information discovery process by addressing their needs
in high volume sample tracking, help with GALP and FDA validated-environment
enforcement and providing streamlined audit trail generation. Genaissance
Pharmaceuticals is a leader in developing technology for applying population
genomics and informatics to improve the development, marketing and prescribing
of drugs. For details, visit http://www.lims.com
SampleManager 2000 LIMS Released by LabSystems
LabSystems has released the latest generation of its flagship enterprise
LIMS solution, SampleManager 2000. With the release of SampleManager 2000,
LabSystems now offers the LIMS to customers who wish to run SampleManager
of a wider variety of platforms including NT, UNIX, and openVMS. To allow
customers to benefit from recent advances in the Oracle database management
system, development and internal validation of the SampleManager 2000 server
has been based on Oracle version 8.0.5 (a follow-up release of SampleManager
based on Oracle 8i is due for release later this year). The SampleManager
2000 client will run on Windows 95, 98, NT and 2000 operating systems. For
details, visit http://www.labsystems.com
Strategic Directions International Releases
6th Edition of Global Assessment Report on the Analytical Industry
Strategic Directions International (SDI) has released the 6th edition of
their SDi Global Assessment Report that focuses on the laboratory analytical
instrument industry from 2000-2004. The report provides market sizes, growth
rates, and analyses for over 55 instument technologies, 6 major regions
of the world, and all end-user industry sectors. The 50 largest suppliers
of analytical instruments -- that account for over 70% of the total market
-- are profiled. Annual instrument sales are given, as well as a brief history,
business descriptions, and corporate growth strategies. The report costs
$4995. For additional information, visit http://www.strategic-directions.com
PerkinElmer Launches E-Commerce Platform,
Expands E-Business Offering
PerkinElmer Instruments has announced the launch of a new e-Commerce platform
that seeks to provide customers with an efficient, easy-to-use electronic
marketplace, thus expanding the company's overall e-Business offering. In
addition to the ability to control the purchasing process, PerkinElmer Instruments
now offers e-Support modules that provide convenient access to information,
such as technical documents, software revisions and upgrades, frequently
asked questions and answers, and on-line customer training and seminar registration.
The on-line marketplace is globally accessible through http://www.perkinelmer.com,
and offers consumables, supplies, and a small number of pre-configured instruments
and accessories.
Calvin Carr Named Chief Operating Officer
at ChemIndustry.com
ChemIndustry.com has named Calvin Carr as Chief Operating Officer. Carr
will manage day-to-day operations of this leading provider of search and
referral services for the chemical and related industries. Prior to ChemIndustry.com,
Carr was Vice President of Sales and Business Development for the IT reesearch
division of Survey.com. He has also been group publisher for 101 Communications,
launched Enterprise Linux Magazine, and held senior publishing positions
at Cahners Business Information. For details, visit http://www.chemindustry.com
Mary Ellen Goffredo Named Vice President of
Marketing at NuGenesis Technologies
NuGenesis Technologies Corporation has announced the appointment of Mary
Ellen Goffredo as Vice President of Marketing. Ms. Goffredo joined NuGenesis
Technologies in 1998 as Director of Marketing. In that period, she has helped
fuel company growth by positioning NuGenesis Technologies as a leading provider
of electronic records solutions to regulated industries. Prior to joining
NuGenesis Technologies, Goffredo was director of marketing for PE Sciex.
She had also served in several marketing-related funcations at Waters Corporation.
For details, visit http://www.nugenesis.com
NuGenesis Technologies and Interface Engineering
Corporation Announce Distribution Agreement for South Korea
NuGenesis Technologies Corporation has announced a distribution agreement
with Interface Engineering, Ltd., a South Korean company which provides
the pharmaceutical industry with chemical analysis instruments, LIMS, and
automation systems solutions. Interface Engineering will represent and resell
the NuGenesis Technologies suite of products in South Korea. For details,
visit http://www.nugenesis.com or
http://www.interface.co.kr.
Applied Biosystem Announces Orthogonal MALDI
(oMALDI) Ion Source for the API QSTAR Pulsar Hybrid LC/MS/MS System
Applied Biosystem has announced the Orthogonal MALDI (oMALDI) Ion Source
for the API QSTAR Pulsar Hybrid LC/MS/MS system. The oMALDI source technology
was developed at the University of Manitoba by the group headed by Professors
Ken Standing and Werner Ens. It offers a breakthrough in performance by
combining the high-throughput capabilities of MALDI (matrix-assisted laser
desorption ionization) analysis with the high mass resolution and mass accuracy
of the QSTAR tandem mass spectrometer system. With the oMALDI ion source
on the QSTAR Pulsar system, both MS and MS/MS analysis of peptides with
high sensitivity and mass accuracy become routine for the first time. For
details, visit http://www.appliedbiosystems.com
AstraZeneca Chooses FMAT 8100 HTS System for
Primary Lead Discovery Research
Applied Biosystems Group has announced that the AstraZeneca R&D Charnnwood
has selected the FMAT 8100 HTS System for high-throughput screning of pharmaceutical
targets in respiratory and inflammation research. The system will be used
for a variety of assay types, including FLISA (fluorescence-linked immunosorbent
assays), receptor-binding assays, and both cell- and bead-based assays.
AstraZeneca R&D Charnwood, based in Loughborough, Leicestershire, U.K.,
was the first European pharmaceutical company to adopt the FMAT system.
For details, visit http://www.appliedbiosystems.com
Human Genome Sciences Using HTS to Screen
for Novel Human Proteins
Applied Biosystems Group has announced that the Human Genome Sciences (HGS)
is using the FMAT 8100 HTS System for its protein validation studies, including
the identification of orphan receptors. A fluorescence macro-confocal platform
targeted for high-throughput screening (HTS), the FMAT instrument enables
mix-and-read, non-radioactive assays with live cells or beads. Scientists
at HGS perform cell- and bead-based assays on the FMAT to screen for the
expression of novel human proteins, define their function at the cellular
level, and search for secreted cytokines. For details, visit http://www.appliedbiosystems.com
LabView 6i Introduced by National Instruments
National Instruments has introduced LabView 6i, their latest version of
their LabView product which incorporates new Internet and measurement technologies.
Users can publish applications on the Web, streamline devleopment, develop
professional user interfaces and more. They are hosting a series of seminars
at key locations around the world, from Australia to Argentina to Arizona
to highlight the new product. For details about the new product and tour,
visit http://www.ni.com/labviewtour