Company Announcements

In January, MRM Proteomics granted Biodesix rights to utilize its iMALDI technologies by developing assays to further advance blood-based lung cancer diagnostics.

In February, Plasmion completed a nearly €1 million ($1 million) investment round with a consortium that includes Bayerische Beteiligungsgesellschaft (BayBG) and High-Tech Gründerfonds. The company’s SICRIT (Soft Ionization by Chemical Reaction in Transfer) MS ionization technology enables applications in the fields of chemical analysis, industrial QC and process control.

Portable MS maker 1^st Detect, part of Astrotech, named Vice President and COO Raj Mellacheruvu as president and CEO in February. Former CEO Thomas B. Pickens III continues to serve on the Board.

Product Introductions

In January, Shimadzu launched the CLAM‒2030 fully automated preparation module for LC/MS. The module automates everything from the preparation of urine, blood and other biological samples to measurement, completing the process in 3–8 minutes. The module can be connected to four models of Shimadzu triple quadrupole LC/MS: the LCMS‒8040, LCMS‒8045, LCMS‒8050 and LCMS‒8060.

Microsaic Systems introduced in January the compact, point-of-need Microsaic MiD ProteinID technology for verification of target proteins throughout the whole bioprocessing value chain. It features a mass range of 50–3,200 m/z.

In January, Shimadzu released an MS system with a probe electrospray ionization unit. The optional dedicated unit, DPiMS-8060, enables PESI (probe electrospray ionization). As ionization is performed without a chromatograph, the time required for preparation and analysis can be reduced. The DPiMS-8060 PESI can be installed on three Shimadzu triple quadrupole MS systems: the LCMS-8060, LCMS-8045 and LCMS-8050.

Waters debuted in January the Kairos Amino Acid Analysis Kit, consisting of reagents, standards and analytical column and associated methodology, for the quantification of 40 or more amino acids in 10 minutes or less when used with compatible Waters UPLC systems and MS systems and the Waters Targeted Omics Method Library.

In January, Waters introduced the fit-for-purpose BioAccord System, an TOF LC/MS system for analytical testing of biopharmaceuticals. The system is optimized for protein, released glycan and peptide monitoring applications.

In February, Andrew Alliance announced a new strategic partnership agreement with Waters to improve laboratory operations for mid- to small-throughput LC/MS sample preparation. New products will be launched in 2019.

In February, IonSense lauched PIMISA Search Software for identification of drugs of abuse by DART. The software operates together with the DART-equipped Waters ACQUITY QDa detector. Using multiple ion fragmentation conditions for each analyte, the software matches a set of spectra against the drug spectral library developed in collaboration with Cayman Chemical.

Sales and Orders of Note

In January, SCIEX announced that the San Francisco Office of the Chief Medical Examiner acquired 3 SCIEX X500R QTOF MS systems and 5 SCIEX QTRAP 6500+ LC-MS/MS systems to accelerate caseloads and improve accuracy.