Advion BioSciences Detects Melamine in Pet Food Gluten
March 31, 2007 — ITHACA, N.Y., March 31, 2007 – Advion BioSciences, Inc., a leader in the life science analytical industry, announced it has completed the analysis of samples associated with the recent pet food recall. This work was done in collaboration with Cornell’s College of Veterinary Medicine, the FDA and other North American selected laboratories. Advion BioSciences was asked to act as a reference laboratory to support Cornell University’s efforts.
Aminopterin, a commonly used rat poison, was suspected of being present in certain components of the pet food. The company coordinated the efforts of its two business divisions, BioSystems and BioServices, to utilize the scientific talents at its disposal. Under the direction and coordination of Dr. Jack Henion, Chief Scientific Officer and co-founder of the company, the results were completed within 72 hours and shared with Cornell University’s College of Veterinary Medicine. Advion’s scope of work was viewed as important for the scientific mission to identify the unknown toxin in the pet food ingredients and helped form the basis of conclusions shared with the global media on March 30th. Advion confirmed the presence of melamine in wheat gluten using sophisticated commercial analytical equipment in conjunction with Advion’s systems which provided additional valuable data for the identification of melamine. Advion detected no evidence for aminopterin in any of the gluten samples.
Advion BioServices is one of the largest and most respected independent commercial bioanalytical laboratories in the world, serving the pharmaceutical and biopharmaceutical industry.
Given the broad global interest in the pet food recall, the company is strongly considering broadening its business model to analyze melamine, aminopterin and other analytes in pet food samples and pet biological samples (including blood or urine) for a fee basis. This decision will be made shortly and posted on the company’s website www.advion.com.
About Advion:
Founded in 1993, Advion BioSciences, Inc. are pioneers in bioanalytical services and innovators of products for the life science industry.
For Advion:
Amy Boardman
Advion
Manager of Corporate Marketing Communications
607.266.9162
aboardman@advion.com