MDS Proteomics and Thermo Finnigan to Collaborate on Acceleration of Proteomics-Based Drug Discovery
TORONTO, Ontario and SAN JOSE, MDS Proteomics, a proteomics-based drug discovery company, and Thermo Finnigan, a Thermo Electron business and leading manufacturer of mass spectrometry instruments, today announced that they will collaborate on the design of new technology that will greatly accelerate the analysis of low-abundant proteins – proteins that are most often associated with human disease. MDS Proteomics’ experts in proteomics-based analyses will work with Thermo Finnigan’s world-class engineering team to customize Thermo Finnigan FTMS instruments for MDS Proteomics’ unique applications. This new technology, which is based on Fourier transform ion cyclotron resonance mass spectrometry (FTMS), significantly enhances analytical sensitivity, providing a several-thousand- fold boost in mass spectrometric resolution, a 50- fold improvement in mass measurement accuracy, and 100-fold improvement in the dynamic range detection of these trace proteins. MDS Proteomics will deploy the customized FTMS systems to dramatically reduce the time and effort required for drug-target discovery and therapeutic validation.
MDS Proteomics will contribute technical specifications pertaining to FTMS technology requirements for proteomic applications and receive exclusive access to beta versions of Thermo Finnigan’s FTMS instruments. MDS Proteomics’ evaluation and feedback during the early assessment period will provide Thermo Finnigan with important input as it develops a commercial FTMS product. The Thermo Finnigan FTMS proteomics platform will provide high dynamic range, accurate mass measurement, high mass resolution, and ultra-high sensitivity together with peptide sequencing capability, allowing unsurpassed low-level protein identification and a reduction in the overall analysis time. The combination of these breakthrough performance attributes will enable MDS Proteomics to more rapidly identify disease-specific proteins that are often present at trace quantities in human tissues.
“We are very excited by the opportunity to add Thermo Finnigan’s proprietary technology to our already unique network of mass spectrometry systems supplied by Applied Biosystems/MDS Sciex Instruments,” said Frank Gleeson, CEO and President of MDS Proteomics.“ Together with these key partners, MDSP has developed mass spectrometry systems that are 10,000-times more sensitive and 100-times faster at identifying proteins and their interacting partners, representing a two-year lead time advantage over competing systems. This means we can now apply proteomics directly to accelerating the drug- discovery process in multiple ways. We plan to leverage the capabilities and expertise of both mass spectrometry technology platforms with our in-house biological and supercomputing capabilities to improve the productivity of the pharmaceutical industry in discovering and developing new medicines for the treatment of disease.”
“We have a strong interest in working with MDS Proteomics, who are visionary leaders in developing novel applications for proteomics in drug discovery” said Ian Jardine, president of Thermo Finnigan. “Our ion trap mass spectrometers, many of which are currently used by MDS Proteomics for high-throughput analysis, are recognized as workhorse instruments in the field of proteomics. FTMS technology will give us another strong platform to serve researchers in protein science and proteomics. MDS Proteomics will provide us with valuable insights into market needs and applications as we develop FTMS.”
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