TekCel Acquires Biophile -- Now Offers Validated, Ultra-Low-Temperature (Minus 80ºC) Sample Management Systems for Sensitive Life Science Applications --

TekCel, Inc., a leading innovator of sample-management and assay automation systems for life science research, announced today that it acquired the assets of Biophile, Inc. Terms of the transaction were not disclosed.

HOPKINTON, MA (PRWEB) June 22, 2004 -- TekCel, Inc., a leading innovator of sample-management and assay automation systems for life science research, announced today that it acquired the assets of Biophile, Inc. Terms of the transaction were not disclosed. Based in Charlottesville, Virginia, Biophile develops validated, ultra-low-temperature (minus 80°C) sample-management systems designed for the exacting demands of highly sensitive drug discovery and other life science and medical research applications, such as genomics and proteomics, and DNA, tissue, and tumor storage. Since 2002, Biophile has installed its ultra-low-temperature sample-management systems at pharmaceutical companies, public health research institutes, and university research laboratories across the U.S. TekCel plans to maintain Biophiles product research and development operations in Charlottesville.

This is an exciting time for TekCel," said Robert J. Rosenthal, president and chief executive officer. And all of us at TekCel take great pleasure in welcoming Biophiles talented staff to the company. One of those truly strategic acquisitions where one plus one is far greater than two, our product lines, capabilities, and market reach are complementary. Until now, TekCel and Biophile have served different segments of the life sciences community. This acquisition will allow us to combine the strengths of both organizations to reach new customers and serve our existing customers better with expanded product and service offerings."

About Biophiles Ultra-Low-Temperature Sample-Management Systems
The fully automated BIOPHILE® ultra-low-temperature sample-storage system provides secure access to samples and complete sample histories. The systems sophisticated technology enables users to retrieve and store samples in an -80°C environment with no frost build-up. The BIOPHILEs internal robotics retrieve and store microplates in a rotating vertical stack engineered for efficient use of space. Access to samples is expedited through a secure airlock system.

The sample-storage system features an easy-to-use touchscreen interface that provides the point-of-contact for the laboratory manager or technician. The BIOPHILE's touchscreen interface catalogs samples, and tracks chain-of-custody, while complying with FDA 21 CFR Part 11 guidelines. User IDs and passwords provide access control for lab technicians, as well as user/group account controls for the administrator.

Providing automated access to individual vials stored at ultra-low temperatures, the BIOPHILE Individual Vial Retriever (IVR) extends the advantages of laboratory automation to many drug discovery, repository, and other life science applications. Using robotics technology, the IVR performs storage, retrieval, sorting, cataloging, volume estimation (weighing), barcode reading, and re-racking on a vial-by-vial basis, while preserving frozen samples at their optimal temperatures. With the BIOPHILE IVR, life science laboratories working at ultra-low temperatures can achieve dramatically higher throughput and maintain sample integrity and quality, while ensuring precise sample picking and improved vial security.

About TekCel
Founded in 1998, TekCel is a leading innovator of sample management and assay automation systems for life science research. TekCels solutions yield dramatic improvements in efficiency and effectiveness by automating manual processes, integrating applications, and maximizing process controls to ensure biological and chemical sample integrity and resulting data fidelity. TekCels modular, scalable family of products includes sample-management automation, liquid handling, software, and proprietary consumables addressing researchers needs from archive-compound storage through screening result. TekCels products provide the quality and reliability required in high-throughput production environments.

For more information, contact TekCel, Inc., 103 South Street, Hopkinton, MA 01748. Tel: 800-310-5866 (in US). Tel/Fax: +44 (0) 1480 431900 (Europe). E-mail: info@tekcel.com. Web site: www.tekcel.com.
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