Category: Press Release

ITHACA, NY – February 27, 2012 –Advion, Inc. a leading life sciences Systems and Consumables developer, continues its global introduction of the new expression, a Compact Mass Spectrometer (CMS), by naming Inkarp Instruments Pvt Ltd as its distributor in India. The expression is a fume hood-designed single quadrupole mass spectrometer specific for chemists to speed up and to simplify their process. With all of the performance at a significant price discount to existing mass spectrometers, chemists now have direct access to technology unavailable previously. The recently-released and shipment-ready CMS is being introduced to the Indian market this month with visits to leading CROs and academic sites.

Following a soft-launch to the marketplace in August at the ACS Fall meeting in Denver, Advion received significant in-bound interest and orders from companies around the world, and has chosen a selective regional distribution model to meet the needs of these markets. Last month, they announced an exclusive agreement with the Chinese distributor, Universal Instruments, and enlarged the scope of their pre-existing relationship with BioMechatronic in Korea.

“Advion is devoted to providing quality products and exceptional customer service. Given the level of initial interest received for the new compact mass spectrometer, we needed to identify the strongest regional partners to service and to support our customers,” says David B. Patteson, Advion’s CEO. “Inkarp Instruments was selected for their deep knowledge of the synthetic, organic and medicinal chemistry markets in India as well as strong relationships within the CRO, academic and pharmaceutical organizations that will benefit most from this technology.”

“We are excited about the compact mass spectrometer and feel it would be an appropriate solution for Indian customers who look for cost effective solutions to their needs and look forward to growing the business along with Advion,” says Mr. S.Balu, the Chief Executive of Inkarp

A formal North American launch of the expression CMS will take place next month at the Pittcon meeting in Orlando followed by the ACS Spring meeting in San Diego.

About Advion, Inc.
Advion is the partner of choice for pharmaceutical, biotechnology, academic and government researchers seeking to enhance their mass spectrometry and chemical synthesis workflows. Using our deep scientific and engineering expertise, we develop a broad portfolio of purpose-built mass spectrometers, nanoelectrospray ionization sources, and flow-chemistry synthesis systems and consumables characterized by their reliability, quality, flexibility and fit for purpose design. More about the company can be found at www.advion.com.

About Inkarp
Inkarp is a leading scientific instruments company. With a reputed presence of over 25 years in India the company addresses the instrumentation needs of pharma companies , research institutes. Indian Pharma Industry continues to grow in India and Major Indian Multinational companies are investing significantly in discovery research. More about inkarp can be found at www.inkarp.co.in

For Advion, Inc.
Amy Boardman
Manager of Corporate Marketing Communications
Advion, Inc.
Telephone: 1.607.379.4565
aboardman@advion.com

For Inkarp Instruments Pvt Ltd
S. Rentala
Director
Inkarp Instruments Pvt Ltd
Telephone: +91 40 27172293
rentala@inkarp.co.in

ITHACA, NY – January 23, 2012 –Advion, Inc. a leading life sciences Systems and Consumables developer, has appointed Universal Analytical and Testing Instruments, Ltd. (UATIL) as the exclusive distributor for the expression, a Compact Mass Spectrometer (CMS) approximately half the size, and half the price, of existing single quadrupole mass spectrometers on the market. The newly-released and shipment-ready CMS was introduced to the Chinese market this past week with joint visits to leading CROs and academic and government research sites – with great interest.

The expression CMS is designed for the discovery research and process development synthetic organic chemistry market. Compact enough to operate in fume hoods and space-restricted laboratories, chemists now have direct access to identify, monitor and confirm compounds rapidly as they are created in the reactor. Moreover, the personal single quadrupole mass spectrometer allows for rapid compound confirmation in normal phase chromatography fractions.

Traditionally, chemists initiate a multi‐hour reaction and periodically withdraw samples for analysis in an open access mass spectrometry lab. The remote analysis can take hours, decreasing the usefulness of the information and building workflow inefficiencies. Additionally, large numbers of normal phase purification fractions are generated and add to the central lab burden, further slowing vital feedback. Available systems are too complex, costly, large and lacked design elements to be used in a hood next to the reaction. The expression CMS is easy to use with an intuitive software package. The combination of a small footprint (< 11 inches wide) and critical design features which permit operation within a fume hood, or next to existing bench instrumentation, conserve valuable laboratory space.

“This group of chemists has been largely underserved and Advion has a wealth of experience in mass spectrometry applications in small molecule, natural product and peptide chemistry,” says David B. Patteson, Advion’s CEO. “Universal is the best partner for this product in China. They have a large geographic footprint in the country, sales/support offices in all of the major cities, and a deep set of relationships with all our intended customers.”

Advion will continue to utilize ASPEC Technologies for the representation of its TriVersa NanoMate ion source products sold into a large range of applications including proteomics, lipidomics and metabolomics as they are the ideal partner for those solutions.

About Advion, Inc.
Advion is a proven leader in flow chemistry systems and microfluidic products which improve the performance of mass spectrometers in demanding applications The company creates unique micro and nanotechnologies which deliver speed, ease-of-use, exceptional data quality and affordability. More about the company can be found at www.advion.com.

About Universal
UATIL is a leading supplier of laboratory instruments and equipment to research labs in universities, research institutes, pharmaceutical industries and government laboratories in China and Hong Kong. UATIL’s headquarter is located in Hong Kong with support offices in Beijing, Shanghai, Guangzhou and Wuhan. More about the company can be found at www.uatil.com.

About ASPEC
ASPEC develops solutions to help advance innovation in science and technologies in the Greater China markets. The company supports scientists and professionals in the academic and government research, pharmaceutical, food, chemicals, clinical, and other applied markets and life science industries by providing premier bio-analytical instrumentation, services, and consulting. More about the company can be found at www.aspectechnologies.com.

For Advion, Inc.
Amy Boardman
Manager of Corporate Marketing Communications
Advion, Inc.
Telephone: 1.607.379.4565
aboardman@advion.com

For Universal Analytical & Testing Instruments, Ltd.
Stephen Hung
Universal Analytical & Testing Instruments, Ltd.
Room 2103, 21/F Fullerton Centre,
No. 19 Hung To Road, Kwun Tong,
Kowloon, Hong Kong
Tel: 852-36924581 Fax: 852-36924576
Website: www.uatil.com

For ASPEC Technologies Limited
Charles C. Liu, Ph.D.
ASPEC Technologies Limited
Room 1509, Reward Building A
No.203, 2nd Section Wang Jing Li Ze Zhong Yuan
Chaoyang District, Beijing 100102
China
Tel.: +86-10-6439-9978 ext. 6109
Cell： +86-13910122329
Fax： +86-10-6439-9499
charles.c.liu@aspectechnologies.com
www.aspectechnologies.com

ITHACA, NY – October 26, 2011 – Advion BioSciences, a leading life sciences Systems and Consumables developer, and one of North America’s largest bioanalytical CROs, has signed a definitive agreement for Quintiles Transnational Corp to acquire its BioServices division. Under the agreement, Quintiles will acquire Advion BioServices for an undisclosed amount of cash. Completion of the transaction, which is subject to usual and customary conditions, is expected in early November.

Going forward, Advion will focus its resources and energies on growing the Systems and Consumables business and be known as Advion, Inc. The company has a strong pipeline of new products due to be launched in the next 6-9 months, and will serve large markets. The sale of the BioServices business has strengthened the company’s position and provided further capital to invest in new products and a more global support organization in anticipation of the new products.

David Patteson, Advion’s CEO and President, commented on the acquisition, “This is an exciting time in Advion’s history. We are in the final phases of launching our compact mass spectrometer, the expression CMS. It is half the size and half the cost of current commercially available single quadrupole mass spectrometers. We have other new products destined to be released by next spring and our future has never been brighter. This latest progression of our business places Advion in a very strong financial position to exercise the next steps in achieving our vision.”

“When I co-founded Advion nearly 20 years ago, I had great expectations for its success,” states Jack Henion, CSO, Chairman and Co-founder. “The latest progression allows the Services business to have an ideal partner in Quintiles, while providing adequate resources to build our Systems business into a leadership position. I am very proud of my continued association with both businesses going forward.”

Both Mr. Patteson and Dr. Henion will remain engaged with Advion in their current roles.

About Advion, Inc.
Advion is a proven leader in flow chemistry systems and microfluidic products which improve the performance of mass spectrometers in demanding applications The company creates unique micro and nanotechnologies which deliver speed, ease-of-use, exceptional data quality and affordability. More about the company can be found at www.advion.com.

For Advion BioSystems, Inc.
Amy Boardman
Manager of Corporate Marketing Communications
Advion BioSciences, Inc.
Telephone: 1.607.266.0665, ext. 331
aboardman@advion.com

ITHACA, NY – September 29, 2011 – Advion BioSciences, Inc., a leading life sciences systems and consumables developer, and one of North America’s largest bioanalytical CROs, announces that Dr. Jack Henion, co-founder, chief scientific officer, and chairman of Advion, will be honored with the 2011 Distinguished Analytical Scientist Award (DASA) on October 5 during the 14th Annual Symposium on Chemical & Pharmaceutical Structure Analysis (CPSA 2011).

Thomas Covey, principal scientist of AB SCIEX and 2008 DASA recipient, and Richard King, co-founder and laboratory director of PharmaCadence Analytical Services and 2006 DASA recipient, will present the Award to Dr. Henion prior to his lecture entitled, A Scientific Adventure—LC/MS: From Academia to Entrepreneurship. The CPSA promotes awareness for the analytical sciences by awarding the DASA to a scientist who is recognized by his or her peers to demonstrate a sustained record of analytical innovation and contribution while actively participating in external meetings and publishing.

Dr. Henion is an internationally recognized leader in the field of MS and LC/MS. He is credited with nine patents and has published more than 200 peer-reviewed papers in scientific journals. In addition to his work at Advion, Dr. Henion managed a major research laboratory at Cornell University, where he served as a professor of toxicology for more than 24 years and is now Emeritus Professor of Analytical Toxicology. Under his leadership and vision, Advion has established itself as one of the largest and most respected bioanalytical contract laboratories in North America and a leader in chip-based nanoelectrospray mass spectrometry.

About Advion BioSciences, Inc.
Advion is the partner of choice for pharmaceutical, biotechnology, and research customers requiring scientific excellence in their contract bioanalytical services, infusion and chemistry products. Our deep scientific expertise enables us to provide a portfolio of nanoelectrospray and flow-chemistry instruments as well as bioanalytical services characterized by scientific excellence, quality, flexibility, and regulatory compliance. More about the company can be found at www.advion.com.

For Advion BioSystems, Inc.
Amy Boardman
Manager of Corporate Marketing Communications
Advion BioSciences, Inc.
Telephone: 1.607.266.0665, ext. 331
aboardman@advion.com

August 29, 2011 – Denver, CO – Advion BioSystems, a leading life sciences Systems and Consumables developer, and one of North America’s largest LC‐MS bioanalytical CROs, will
introduce a Compact Mass Spectrometer (CMS) that is approximately half the size, and half the price, of existing single quadrupole mass spectrometers on the market. The CMS launch will take place at the ACS 2011 Fall meeting in Denver, CO August 29 – 31, 2011.

The expression CMS was developed with synthetic organic and process development chemists in mind. The expression CMS allows them to identify and to monitor compounds as they are created in, or next to, the reactor. Traditionally, these chemists would initiate a multi‐hour reaction and periodically withdraw samples for analysis in an open access mass spectrometry lab. Answers could take hours, eliminating the usefulness of the information. Available systems were too complex, costly and large to be used in a hood, or on the bench, next to the reaction. The expression CMS is fast and easy to use with an intuitive software package which can be run on a tablet. The instrument was designed with a small footprint (< 11 inches wide) that will fit within a fumehood, or next to an existing bench instrumentation stack, thereby conserving valuable laboratory space.

“This group of chemists has been largely underserved and Advion has a wealth of experience in mass spectrometry applications as well as medicinal chemistry,”says Simon Prosser, Senior Marketing Director for the expression CMS. “Current single quadrupole mass spectrometers have significantly more analytical power than required by our target customers, and they are paying for functionality they do not need. We have created a product with excellent performance, a smaller package, an attractive price, and we are putting the power of mass spectrometry where they need it – in their lab.”

With a price tag under US $50K, the expression CMS falls within the discretionary budget of most academic institutes and industrial departments.

The ACS Fall 2011 display is a launch to introduce the concept of the expression CMS to a key audience, and to receive final input from the market prior to official commercial release and shipment in spring 2012.

About Advion BioSystems, Inc.
Advion is a proven leader in flow chemistry systems and microfluidic products which improve the performance of mass spectrometers in demanding applications. The company creates unique micro and nanotechnologies which deliver speed, ease‐of‐use, exceptional data quality and affordability. More about the company can be found at www.advion.com or by visiting booth #836 in the Colorado Convention Center.

For Advion BioSystems, Inc.
Amy Boardman
Manager of Corporate Marketing Communications
Advion BioSciences, Inc.
Telephone: 1.607.266.0665, ext. 331
aboardman@advion.com

ITHACA, NY – August 11, 2011 — Clopidogrel is an inactive prodrug that is metabolized stepwise to its pharmacologically active metabolite (clopidogrel active metabolite; CAM) by cytochrome P450 enzymes. CAM is unstable in whole blood and plasma and requires derivatization upon collection, usually by using 2-Bromo-3′-methoxyacetophenone (BMAP). This procedure has been well documented in the literature (1). Many bioanalytical methods have historically measured plasma concentrations of clopidogrel and its inactive carboxylic acid metabolite as surrogates for plasma levels of CAM due to the difficulty of developing methods specific for CAM. Since the structure of CAM has been shown exist in the Z configuration any reference standard employed for bioanalysis would also be required to incorporate this orientation. However, due to the difficulty of synthesizing the less favored Z diastereomer, many bioanalytical methods have employed the more readily available E diastereomer. CAM has also been shown be only one of a pair of Z diastereomers (H4) while the corresponding Z diastereomer H3 has been shown to have little activity (2, 3). Therefore, existing methods that merge H3 and H4 (1) into a single chromatographic peak are less desirable than those that separate H3 and H4 (3). This is especially true in studies attempting to evaluate drug-drug interactions (4). Advion has recently validated a method specific for H4 and this method has been used in clinical analysis of thousands of samples. This method will be redeveloped to include clopidogrel and the inactive metabolite as well in the near future.

A full list of Advion’s validated LC/MS and immunoassay methods to support drug-drug interactions or comparative studies is available on its website.

REFERENCES

1. Quantitative determination of clopidogrel active metabolite in human plasma by LC–MS/MS. Takahashi, M.; Pang, H.; Kawabata, K.; et al. J. Pharm. Biomed. Anal. 2008 48:1219–1224.
2. Structure and sterochemistry of the active metabolite of clopidogrel. Pereillo, J.-M.; Maftouh, M.; Andrieu, A.; et al. Drug Metab. Dispos. 2002 30:1288–1295.
3. An improved method for specific and quantitative determination of the clopidogrel active metabolite isomers in human plasma. Tuffal, G.; Roy, S.; Lavisse, M.; et al. Thromb. Haemostasis 2011 105.5:696-705.
4. Differential Effects of Omeprazole and Pantoprazole on the Pharmacodynamics and Pharmacokinetics of Clopidogrel in Healthy Subjects: Randomized, Placebo-Controlled, Crossover Comparison Studies. Angiolillo, D.J.; Gibson, C.M.; Cheng, S.; et al. Clin. Pharmacol. Ther. 2011 89:65-74.

About Advion BioServices, Inc.
Advion is a scientific leader in bioanalytical and immunoassay services. Advion offers a range of GLP-compliant and discovery support services including bioanalytical LC/MS/MS, LC/MS biomarker analysis, immunoassay, dose formulation analysis, P450 inhibition study support, sample management, and sample storage. The company is the laboratory of choice for pharmaceutical and biotechnology companies in pursuit of scientific excellence.

More information about the company can be found on its website www.advion.com.

For Advion:
Amy Boardman
Manager of Corporate Marketing Communications
1.607.266.0665
aboardman@advion.com

ITHACA, NY – July 27, 2011 – Advion BioServices, a subsidiary of Advion BioSciences, Inc. and a leading bioanalytical contract research organization, will immediately begin offering its clients SISCAPA® LC/MS Biomarker assay services. This is made possible by a license and collaboration agreement Advion BioServices has executed with SISCAPA Assay Technologies, Inc. of Rockville, MD.

Biomarker and in-turn, biotherapeutic analysis is a growing focus area in companion diagnostics, clinical patient profiling and drug development for pharmaceutical and biotechnology companies.

“Advion is a leader in bioanalytical services, and strives to offer cutting edge technology and the greatest value and resources to our clients,” comments Tom Kurz, Advion BioServices’ President. He continues, “By partnering with SISCAPA Assay Technologies, Inc., we are able to leverage our expertise in protein and peptide analysis by mass spectrometry and open new areas of testing for our clients.”

Advion has a strong reputation in the industry for providing a large suite of critical bioanalytical services based on a philosophy of scientific excellence in an environment of strict regulatory compliance. The SISCAPA assays are mass spectrometry-based, and will be conducted in Advion’s LC/MS laboratory, based in Ithaca, NY.

“We are very pleased that Advion BioServices has become the first CRO able to offer commercial SISCAPA assay services”, said Leigh Anderson, CEO of SISCAPA Assay Technologies, Inc. “Advion is a recognized leader in mass spectrometric assays for peptides and proteins, and this capability provides a smooth path for implementation of novel biomarker assays in regulated pharmaceutical studies.”

About Advion BioServices, Inc.
Advion is a scientific leader in bioanalytical LC/MS services, in vitro assays, and immunoassay services. Advion offers a range of GLP-compliant and discovery bioanalytical services including LC/MS/MS for the determination of small molecule drugs, macromolecule therapies and biomarkers, immunoassay services, ADME screening, cytochrome P450 inhibition and induction study support, metabolism profiling, metabolite identification, sample management, and sample storage. The company is the laboratory of choice for pharmaceutical and biotechnology companies in pursuit of scientific excellence.

Additional information about Advion is available at www.advion.com.

For Advion:
Amy Boardman
Manager of Corporate Marketing Communications
Advion BioSciences, Inc.
607.266.0665 ext. 331
aboardman@advion.com

About SISCAPA Assay Technologies, Inc.
SISCAPA Assay Technologies is focused on creating SISCAPA® assays for a growing menu of high-value protein biomarkers, with the long-term goal of enabling sensitive and precise measurement of every human protein in clinical and other samples. Additional information about SISCAPA affinity-MS technology, available reagents, and licensing opportunities is available at www.SISCAPA.com.