Sigma-Aldrich acquires Seppro depletion technology from GenWay
Biotech
16 January 2009
Sigma-Aldrich (NASDAQ:SIAL) has expanded its proteomics offerings
with the acquisition of Seppro affinity depletion technology and a
library of 700 avian-derived antibodies from GenWay Biotech, Inc.
Seppro depletion products enable scientists to measure more precisely
the expression of protein biomarkers from a range of mammalian and plant
biological samples. This acquisition covers current inventory,
production technology and all future rights to produce and distribute
the product lines.
The Seppro IgY depletion platform is an antibody-based technology for
processing plasma, serum and plant samples. It enables researchers to
detect and analyze commonly obscured biomarkers in samples by removing
highly abundant proteins. Seppro depletion products are built using
chicken-derived IgY antibodies, providing higher selectivity and lower
cross-reactivity than other comparable products.
The Seppro platform, incorporating SuperMix technology, represents
the most complete human depletion system available, removing 14 of the
most abundant proteins from human serum or plasma, as well as other high
and medium abundant proteins. Additional products are available for the
depletion of mouse and rat samples, as well as the industry's only
depletion system for the removal of Rubisco.
The library of 700 polyclonal IgY antibodies acquired from GenWay
represents Sigma-Aldrich's first IgY antibody offering. The new
antibodies are derived from chicken embryos and prepared using
recombinant antigens. Chicken antibodies display less cross-reactivity
with mammalian proteins, producing fewer false positive reactions in
certain immunochemical assays. Chicken IgY is also typically more stable
than IgG derived from mammalian species.
With the acquisition of the chicken-derived IgY antibodies library,
Sigma-Aldrich also plans to expand its antibody catalog, to which more
than 8,000 new antibodies were added in 2008.
"The acquisition of Seppro significantly strengthens Sigma-Aldrich's
position in antibody-based depletion technology," said Dr. Dave Smoller,
President of Sigma-Aldrich's Research Biotech Business Unit. "Our goal,
through acquisitions and collaborations, is to provide researchers with
the most comprehensive and highly characterized portfolio of antibodies
and antibody products."
Seppro technology joins Sigma-Aldrich's leading collection of depletion
products, including ProteoPrep kits for the removal of highly abundant
proteins, such as albumin and IgG, from human serum and plasma.
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