Company Announcements

Sphere Fluidics secured in June $2.3 million in the first close of a new investment fund to develop its Cyto-Mine single-cell analysis system.

BioFluidix and cytena partnered to develop single-cell printing technology.

In August, News-Gazette.com reported that Sony Biotechnology will close the 22-person iCyt Mission Technology site in Champaign, Illinois, and move the headquarters to San Jose, California. The manufacture of two products will be moved to Japan.

Yokogawa Technology announced its selection by the Japan Science and Technology Agency’s Next-generation Technology Transfer Program to develop RIKEN’s integrated single-cell MS method using Yokogawa’s confocal-scanner imaging and positioning technology.

Phase Holographic Imaging announced a collaboration with Northeastern University to develop novel cell-analysis applications and techniques.

In September, Fluxion Biosciences signed an exclusive master-distribution agreement with Alliance Global for emerging markets in the Middle East, Africa and Asia.

In October, Essen BioScience named Brett Williams as president and CEO. Most recently, he served as vice president and general manager, Cellular Analysis, at Thermo Fisher Scientific (Life Technologies). Former President Kirk Schroeder will continue as vice president of R&D.

Seahorse Bioscience and the University of Alabama at Birmingham entered into a partnership to study the bioenergetic health of cells in cryopreserved blood in order to produce a clinical test of metabolic bioenergetic health.

Product Introductions

In June, Seahorse Bioscience launched the affordable XFp Extracellular Flux Analyzer, which performs real-time “stress tests” of two major energy-producing pathways of the cell, mitochondrial respiration and glycolysis.

Thermo Fisher Scientific introduced the Thermo Scientific CeLLInsight CX5 High Content Screening Platform, with a newly added NIR capability.

Thermo Fisher Scientific introduced the Countess II FL Automated Cell Counter, with a brightfield and two optional fluorescence channels.

Becton, Dickinson announced on its fiscal third quarter conference call in July that it has launched three Sirigen dyes so far and plans to launch a total of six this year.

In September, ACEA Biosciences introduced the xCELLigence RTCA CardioECR System, which combines impedance and Multi Electrode Array technology with a pacing function, allowing simultaneous cardiomyocyte contractility and field-potential measurement.

Bio-Rad Laboratories launched the ZOE Fluorescent Cell Imager, featuring three fluorescent channels and brightfield. It features an LCD touch screen and a light shield.