WEST BRIDGEWATER, Mass., Sept. 18 /PRNewswire-FirstCall/ -- Boston Biomedica, Inc. (Nasdaq: BBII) today announced that the Company will present data this week on its PCT Sample Preparation System (PCT SPS) at scientific meetings in Atlantic City, New Jersey and at the Universitat Dortmund (University of Dortmund), Germany. The PCT SPS was released for sale on September 17th and is the Company's first commercially available product based on its patented Pressure Cycling Technology (PCT) -- a novel and versatile platform process that uses cycles of low and high pressures to control molecular interactions. The PCT SPS consists of the Barocycler(TM) NEP2017 instrument and specially designed, multi-functional, single-use PULSE(TM) Tubes. Both the Barocycler NEP2017 and the PULSE Tubes are manufactured and sold by Boston Biomedica.
Nucleic Acids (DNA and RNA) and proteins are studied by scientists throughout the world in an ongoing effort to increase their knowledge of both the structure and function of living systems. Discoveries from these studies help in the development of new diagnostics, drugs, and vaccines. The initial step in most of these studies requires DNA, RNA, and proteins to be released ("extracted") from the cells and tissues that harbor them. Many specimen types, such as plant and animal tissues or hardy microbes such as Mycobacteria or bacterial spores, require particularly rigorous extraction procedures to release their cellular contents. Currently available methods for these applications, such as mortar and pestle grinding, bead beating, or sonication, manifest particularly difficult challenges and/or disadvantages to the user. Conversely, the PCT Sample Preparation System offers a safer, and more powerful, versatile, and faster extraction method than most other current procedures.
Dr. Feng Tao, PCT Program Project Scientist, is attending the Second Conference of the International Association of High Pressure Bioscience and Biotechnology in Dortmund, Germany. This conference was specifically organized to enable scientists to present their recent findings from high pressure studies, and to exchange the latest information on high pressure bioscience. Dr. Tao will make a presentation entitled: "Biological Sample Preparation System Using Pressure Cycling Technology (PCT)", highlighting the various advantages of the PCT SPS in the gentle, yet thorough release, of biologically active proteins and nucleic acids from a variety of specimen types.
Dr. Nate Lawrence, PCT Program Project Director, is attending the World Genomics Symposium and Exposition in Atlantic City, New Jersey. This meeting was organized to allow genomics researchers from around the world to meet and discuss recent advances with other researchers, vendors, academia, government, and business leaders. At this meeting, Dr. Lawrence will be making a presentation entitled: "Effective Release of Genomic Materials from Tissue, Microbes, and Other Biological Samples Using Pressure Cycling Technology (PCT)", which focuses on the unique advantages of the PCT SPS in research and diagnostic applications.
Richard T. Schumacher, Founder, CEO, and Chairman of Boston Biomedica said: "Sample preparation is an important part of the genomics and proteomics markets, estimated by some to exceed one billion dollars. Studies have shown that the PCT SPS can be an effective tool for the release of DNA, RNA, and protein from a variety of biological samples, particularly those that current methods have difficulty with, such as bacterial spores, yeast, and biopsy tissues. Our recent studies, along with the findings of our Beta Site and other collaborators, continue to generate new applications where the PCT Sample Preparation System may provide significant new solutions to sample preparation problems to researchers worldwide. For example, West Nile Virus (WNV) RNA extraction is currently achieved using a manual, time-consuming, and inefficient procedure called "bead beating". This method also poses significant safety concerns. We are working with public health officials and other collaborators in investigating the use of the PCT Sample Preparation System for WNV extraction from various parts of birds, and we are very pleased with the results to date."
Boston Biomedica, Inc. provides products and services for the detection 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 in addition to sample preparation, including the inactivation of pathogens in human plasma, therapeutics, and vaccines; protein purification; food safety; and genomics and proteomics. BBI also maintains a passive investment in Panacos Pharmaceuticals, a privately held antiviral drug and vaccine development company spun-off from BBI in 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 intentions, 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 implementation of its commercialization strategies, Boston Biomedica may not be successful in selling its PCT Sample Preparation System to its target markets, and or in further developing Pressure Cycling Technology (PCT) into commercially viable products and services, including those in the areas of inactivation, purification, immunodiagnostics, genomics, and proteomics, or such activities may take longer than currently expected. Pressure Cycling Technology may also not be adaptable to any other commercially viable applications, certain Pressure Cycling Technology applications may not fall within the claims of the Company's eight issued U.S. patents, and 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 the Company's Quarterly Reports on Form 10-Q for the three months ended March 31 and June 30, 2002. Copies of these documents may be obtained by contacting the Company or the SEC.
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Investor Contacts: Media Contact:
Richard T. Schumacher, CEO & Chairman Jennifer Viera
Kevin W. Quinlan, President & COO Schneider & Associates
Boston Biomedica, Inc. 617-536-3300 (T)
508-580-1900 (T)
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SOURCE Boston Biomedica, Inc.
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CONTACT: Investor Contacts: 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