Date: Apr 30, 2008 Source: (
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Agilent Technologies Inc. (NYSE: A) today announced that it has secured an exclusive license to Aktiv-Dry's CAN-BD drying technology for nucleic acid active pharmaceutical ingredients (API's). CAN-BD is a continuous drying technology that produces uniform particles of low moisture nucleic acids, under very mild conditions, in a fraction of the time required by current batch freeze-drying methods. The closed nature of the drying and collection system also reduces the risk of product contamination. The new spray-drying technology is expected to significantly reduce capital requirements and labor costs associated with large-scale drying of therapeutic nucleic acids.
"Agilent has long recognized that nucleic acid drying methods present a significant barrier to economic production of nucleic acid therapeutics at commercial scale," said James Powell, general manager of Agilent's Nucleic Acid Solutions Division. "We have been actively evaluating alternative technologies, and we are now confident that Aktiv-Dry's CAN-BD technology will significantly lower cost-of-goods for our customers while providing a higher-quality nucleic acid API."
Agilent will present a poster on this technology entitled "CAN-BD: A Novel Drying Technology for Therapeutic Oligonucleotides" at the upcoming TIDES Conference at Red Rock Resort and Spa in Las Vegas, Nev., May 19-21. For additional information about the CAN-BD drying technology, please visit Agilent at booth 514 at the TIDES Conference.
About Agilent in Nucleic Acids
Agilent, through its Nucleic Acid Solutions Division, is a leading provider of therapeutic nucleic acid development services and manufacturing solutions for the biotech and pharmaceutical industries. The division operates a 33,500 square foot cGMP nucleic acid API contract manufacturing facility in Boulder, Colo. The state-of-the-art facility manufactures of a wide range of nucleic acid therapeutics, including DNA, RNA, phosphorothioates, mixed PO/PSs, aptamers, conjugated aptamers, siRNA and various modified RNAs. In addition to manufacturing cGMP nucleic acid therapeutics, Agilent also offers an array of turnkey services, including development of analytical methods and processes, stability studies, and regulatory support. Information about Agilent's Nucleic Acid Solutions Division is available at www.agilent.com/chem/nucleicacid.
About Aktiv-Dry LLC
Aktiv-Dry LLC was founded in 2002 by University of Colorado Professors Robert Sievers and John Carpenter, and also by Brian Quinn, Ph.D., to develop life-saving stable vaccines and pharmaceuticals for needle-free delivery. The company currently engages in research and development projects for dry powder applications and contracts with industrial, governmental and not-for-profit clients. For more information, call +1 303 350 3060, X-101 and visit the Web site at www.aktiv-dry.com.
About Agilent Technologies
Agilent Technologies Inc. (NYSE: A) is the world's premier measurement company and a technology leader in communications, electronics, life sciences and chemical analysis. The company's 19,000 employees serve customers in more than 110 countries. Agilent had net revenues of $5.4 billion in fiscal 2007. Information about Agilent is available on the Web at www.agilent.com.
