Gentronix Announces Multi-Year Agreement for Provision of GreenScreen HC Technology to Major Chinese Research Institute, Shanghai Institute of Materia Medica

MACCLESFIELD, England, March 18, 2015 /PRNewswire/ --

UK based Gentronix Limited, the specialist genetic toxicology company, today announced it has signed a three year technology access deal with one of China's most prestigious research intensive institutes, Shanghai Institute Materia Medica (SIMM), Chinese Academy of Sciences (CAS).

Under the terms of the multi-year agreement, Gentronix will provide training & installation support and on-going reagent supply to SIMM scientists to enable use of its proprietary technology, GreenScreen HC, for the detection of chemicals that may cause DNA damage.

The human cell based technology will be used to further expand the ongoing SIMM - Laboratoires Servier joint research initiative set up in 2012 as the collaborators look to expand the range of predictive assays used at SIMM to better understand the properties and potential hazards of new drug candidates.

GreenScreen HC makes use of the human derived TK6 cell line, genetically modified to carry a reporter construct that allows for the generation and detection of Green Fluorescent Protein (GFP) in response to up-regulation of a key gene, GADD45a following DNA stress inducing events.

GreenScreen HC is a pan-mechanistic detection assay capable of detecting all classes of genetic toxin, as well as being able to detect genotoxins formed through metabolic activation using S9 mix.

Prof Yang Ye, Deputy Director of SIMM, commented 'As we expand our research initiative with Laboratoires Servier in novel drug discovery, it is important for SIMM to have access to the best technology as it looks to both advance its collaborative research activities whilst at the same time train the scientists of tomorrow. GreenScreen HC provides us with an excellent capability for early genetic toxicology hazard assessment'

For Nancy Claude, Director of Non Clinical Safety at Servier, the implementation of Greenscreen HC at the SIMM-Servier joint laboratory is an important step for the early stage toxicity screening conducted in both parties as it will contribute to the selection of the best drug candidates quickly and using a minimal amount of compound.

John Nicholson, Chairman and CEO of Gentronix further commented 'This represents our first GreenScreen installation in China and an important development as we increase usage of our technology globally. SIMM has a notable history in research and we look forward to working with their scientists as they expand their drug profiling activities'.

About Gentronix 

Gentronix Limited is a UK company specialising in genotoxicity for a range of industries including; pharmaceuticals, chemicals, agrochemicals, personal care, consumer products, flavours, fragrances and taste enhancers, and medical devices. Gentronix provides services and solutions helping a wide range of chemistry driven companies develop safer products more quickly at lower cost from early screening to GLP studies.

About SIMM 

Shanghai Institute of Materia Medica (SIMM), Chinese Academy of Sciences (CAS) evolved from the Institute of Materia Medica of Peking Academy of Sciences founded in 1932.

Through several generations of effort, SIMM has become one of the leading interdisciplinary research centers in China. It is recognized worldwide by its outstanding achievements in both basic and applied research fields.

SIMM's mission is to provide a comprehensive solution in drug discovery and development. By combining basic and applied research efforts and through cross-fostering between chemistry and biology, scientists at SIMM carry out studies toward the elucidation of the structural basis of bioactive substances, discovery of new targets or mechanisms of action, comprehensive pre-clinical evaluation of drug candidates, and promotion of commercialization, thereby playing an indispensable role in building China's drug innovation capabilities.

The major research directions of SIMM include drugs against diseases seriously endangering the health of Chinese people like tumors, cardiovascular diseases, neurological diseases, metabolic diseases, autoimmune diseases as well as infectious diseases. Another task for SIMM is to strengthen research and development of Traditional Chinese Medicine (TCM).  

SIMM ranks at the top in China for its drug discovery and development activities. More than 70 drugs have been developed since its establishment. Of these, 10 were listed in the Chinese Pharmacopoeia. A number of drug candidates are currently under pre-clinical evaluations.

More information is available at: english.simm.cas.cn

Contacts: suoban@simm.ac.cn

To find out more please visit our website: http://www.gentronix.co.uk or email us at info@gentronix.co.uk  
For more information contact: Dr Steve Beasley, Commercial Director, Gentronix Limited;
Email: steve.beasley@gentronix.co.uk
Tele: +44(0)1625-238-742