System
WEST BRIDGEWATER, Mass., June 14 /PRNewswire-FirstCall/ -- Boston Biomedica, Inc. (Nasdaq: BBII) today announced that it has been invited to present its novel PCT Sample Preparation System (PCT SPS) at an annual meeting of scientists who specialize in the study of a small soil nematode called Caenorhabditis elegans. This year's meeting is being held June 14-16 at the University of New Hampshire, in Durham, New Hampshire.
C. elegans is a primitive organism that nevertheless embodies many biological characteristics that make it a useful model for examining significant problems in human biology. Since the 1960's, scientists throughout the world have studied the genetics of its development and neurobiology, in an attempt to better understand human disease. There are several thousand researchers studying C. elegans, some of whom have been part of an international effort to sequence the entire genome of this very important organism.
Many methods are currently used by scientists to extract DNA, RNA, and proteins from C. elegans, such as grinding with mortar and pestle, sonication, and incubation with digestive enzymes. These methods are manual, time consuming, cumbersome, and in the case of sonication, very noisy. There are also concerns of possible sample contamination, since extraction takes place in an open system, one that requires one or more sample transfers.
In stark contrast to these and other methods presently used for the extraction of nucleic acids and proteins from C. elegans is the PCT Sample Preparation System. The PCT SPS uses a BBI-designed and manufactured instrument, the Barocycler(TM) NEP2017, along with specially designed, multi- functional PULSE(TM) Tubes. Together, these components subject biological samples to repeated cycles of high and low pressures under controlled temperature ranges, to safely and effectively release DNA, RNA, and proteins from many types of cells and tissues, including C. elegans. The PCT SPS provides a self-contained system for the rapid and convenient processing of multiple samples, without the requirement for sample transfers. The use of PCT in sample preparation and other potential applications are the subjects of eight US Patents granted to BBI.
"We are very pleased to have the opportunity to present the PCT Sample Preparation System to this important group of scientists," said Dr. Nate Lawrence, PCT Project Leader. "These investigators spend significant time in the extraction of DNA, RNA, and proteins from this difficult-to-lyse (open) organism in order to conduct their genomics, proteomics, neurobiology, and cell biology research. This time would be much better spent in basic research, and not in sample preparation."
It was also announced today that the University of New Hampshire is the Company's first beta testing site for the PCT Sample Preparation System. Richard T. Schumacher, Founder, CEO, and Chairman of Boston Biomedica said: "We have the PCT SPS up and running at UNH, and are pleased to report that the evaluation is going very well. There are over a dozen investigators included in the study, and these scientists are evaluating the ability of the PCT SPS to extract nucleic acids and proteins from cells and tissue from a wide assortment of biomaterials, including C. elegans, marine flatworms, spiders, bacteria, bovine tissue samples, fungi, and plants".
Mr. Schumacher continued: "In addition to UNH, we have beta site proposals at five other organizations, including academic institutions and biotechnology companies. We expect to begin our beta testing at one or more of these additional sites over the coming weeks. We remain optimistic that we will meet our target to ship PCT Sample Preparation Systems before the end of this September".
Boston Biomedica, Inc. provides products and services for the detection and monitoring of infectious diseases such as AIDS and Viral Hepatitis. BBI has three operating business units: (1) BBI Diagnostics, an ISO 9001 certified manufacturer and supplier of quality control and diagnostics reagents used to increase the accuracy of in vitro diagnostic tests; (2) BBI Biotech Research Laboratories, a research and development center providing R&D support for the other BBI business units, as well as contract research and repository services for the government, industry and other third parties; and (3) BBI Source Scientific, an ISO 9001 certified manufacturer of diagnostic instrumentation and medical devices. In addition, BBI is conducting research and development in Pressure Cycling Technology (PCT), with the goal of introducing new solutions for a number of important healthcare issues, including the extraction of nucleic acids and proteins, the inactivation of pathogens in human plasma, protein purification, food safety, and genomics. BBI also maintains a passive investment in Panacos Pharmaceuticals, a privately held antiviral drug and vaccine development company spun-off from BBI in November of 2000, whose goal is to introduce new solutions for the treatment of infectious diseases.
Statements contained in this news release that state the Company's or management's intention, hopes, beliefs, expectations or predictions of the future are "forward-looking" statements. It is important to note that the Company's actual results could differ materially from those projected in such forward-looking statements. Factors that could cause actual results to differ from those projected include the possibility that, due to difficulties in the development of the technology, BBI may not be successful in developing pressure cycling technology into commercially viable products or services, including those in the area of nucleic acid and protein sample preparation; that pressure cycling technology may not be adaptable to any other commercially viable applications; that certain pressure cycling applications may not fall within the claims of the Company's eight issued patents; and that individuals and groups utilizing such PCT procedures may not be required to license such technology from BBI. Additional information concerning factors that could cause actual results to differ materially from those in the forward-looking statements is contained from time to time in the Company's SEC filings, including but not limited to the Company's Annual Report on Form 10-K for the year ended December 31, 2001 and Quarterly Report on Form 10-Q for the three months ended March 31, 2002. Copies of these documents may be obtained by contacting the Company or the SEC.
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Investor Contacts:
Richard T. Schumacher, CEO & Chairman
Kevin W. Quinlan, President & COO
Boston Biomedica, Inc.
(508) 580-1900 (T)
(508) 580-1110 (F)
Media Contact:
Jennifer Viera
Schneider & Associates
(617) 536-3300 (T)
jviera@schneiderpr.com
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SOURCE Boston Biomedica, Inc.
Web site: http: //www.bbii.com
CONTACT: Richard T. Schumacher, CEO & Chairman or Kevin W. Quinlan, President & COO of Boston Biomedica, Inc., +1-508-580-1900; or Media Contact: Jennifer Viera of Schneider & Associates, +1-617-536-3300, jviera@schneiderpr.com