DURHAM, NC: July 20, 2005
Enthalpy Analytical, Inc. - First and Only Research Triangle Park
Company with New, Cutting-Edge Piece of Equipment that Measures
Pharmaceutical Compounds at Femtogram Levels
Enthalpy Analytical, an up-and-coming bioanalytical lab in Raleigh/Durham,
has become the first and only company in the Research Triangle Park
area to have a state-of-the-art API 5000™ LC/MS/MS System
used for bioanalytical analysis in support of drug discovery and
clinical trials.
The equipment, the API 5000™ LC/MS/MS System, is produced
and sold by Applied Biosystems/MDS SCIEX. Applied Biosystems (NYSE:ABI),
is an Applera Corporation business. MDS SCIEX is a division of MDS,
Inc. (NYSE: MDZ, TSX:MDS).
Liquid chromatography coupled with tandem mass spectrometry (LC/MS/MS)
is a widely used laboratory technique for measuring pharmaceutical
compounds and metabolites in complex biomatrices. Bioanalytical
labs routinely use LC/MS/MS to support drug development and clinical
research trials. Increasingly, researchers require lower and lower
quantitation limits for these target molecules. The API 5000™
System is 5-9 times more sensitive than the API 4000™ Systems,
which has been recognized as the industry leader for low-level detection
of small molecules.
The API 5000™ System is capable of measuring sub pg/mL, which
is the equivalent of finding one drop of water in a 45-foot-deep
pool the size of a football field. It became available in January,
2005 and is not yet in use by any RTP companies besides Enthalpy.
"With the API 5000™ System, we now offer our clients the
most sensitive LC/MS/MS system available," said Todd Grosshandler,
principal, Enthalpy Analytical, Inc. "With this instrument, combined
with our new GLP-designed lab facility, experienced team, and efficient
reporting systems, we can provide faster and more responsive service
than the larger contract research organizations (CROs)."
The API 5000™ System has already demonstrated its robust
nature and excellent performance in research method validations
and pre-clinical to phase IV clinical research study samples. "The
increased sensitivity of the API 5000™ System improves our
efficiency by simplifying sample preparation and reducing preventative
maintenance," said Mike Allen, Director of Pharmaceutical Services,
Enthalpy Analytical, Inc. "The API 5000™ System complements
our existing API 4000™ systems, facilitating our average three-day
turnaround on drug discovery support samples, often including method
development in that period," said Allen.
API 5000 is a trademark of Applied Biosystems/MDS SCIEX, a joint
venture between Applera Corporation and MDS Inc.