Cerionx Announces Research Collaboration Agreement with Merck
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Cerionx and Merck Research Laboratories have announced a one-year collaboration under which the companies will optimize Cerionx' "cold" plasma process for automated pipette tip cleaning in Merck's North Wales, PA Automated Biotechnology Laboratories to improve the efficiency of siRNA assay runs.
Under the terms of the agreement, Merck will use Cerionx' TipCharger™ Systems in its siRNA screening and will work collaboratively with Cerionx to further optimize system performance in that lab.
"The success we've seen in substituting the TipCharger System for more traditional wash protocols has been impressive," commented Dr. Oleg Kornienko, Senior Research Fellow.
"By cutting our wash times in half and eliminating biological waste generated through solvent wash stations, we look forward to more productive and economic assay runs."
"We will be working with Cerionx to test and verify new and different cleaning protocols that will further increase our productivity."
The patented TipCharger System cleans pipette tips with a "cold" atmospheric pressure plasma process that improves assay execution and increases productivity in BioPharma R&D labs.
The TipCharger System is a reliable alternative to tip wash or replacement techniques currently used to mitigate sample carry-over with automated liquid handling devices, and cleans fixed and disposable tips without the use of traditional wash solvents or waste generation.
"Merck is a model partner, and we're delighted with this collaboration," stated Jeb Connor, Chairman and CEO, Cerionx.
"We share the joint goal to improve assay execution. Merck's excellent research reputation and attention to detail will be invaluable as we continue to establish and demonstrate this innovative plasma cleaning technology throughout the BioPharma industry."
