Nanotechnology Now - Press Release: ZyGEM and Commonwealth Biotechnologies Announce Research Collaboration for DNA Extraction Products

Home > Press > ZyGEM and Commonwealth Biotechnologies Announce Research Collaboration for DNA Extraction Products

Abstract:
- Companies are Joining Forces to Further Evaluate and Apply ZyGEM's Unique DNA Extraction Technology to CBI's DNA Forensic Operations - - Includes Potential Development of New DNA Forensic Analysis Products -

ZyGEM and Commonwealth Biotechnologies Announce Research Collaboration for DNA Extraction Products

SOLANA BEACH, CA, HAMILTON, New Zealand and RICHMOND, VA | Posted on September 4th, 2008

ZyGEM Corp. Ltd. today announced that it has entered into a collaboration with Commonwealth Biotechnologies, Inc. (CBI) (CBTE:
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CBTE 0.85, 0.00, -0.6%) to further evaluate and use ZyGEM's forensicGEM(TM) DNA extraction technology in CBI's forensic operations. The collaboration will also combine ZyGEM's innovative technologies and CBI's forensic expertise to develop additional products for the forensic DNA market. Terms of the collaboration were not disclosed.
"Our forensicGEM(TM) DNA extraction kits provide important advantages to forensic scientists, and we are delighted to partner in the U.S. with a technically sophisticated, knowledgeable and respected company such as CBI," said Paul Kinnon, CEO of ZyGEM. "We believe that our unique DNA extraction products are easy to implement in a variety of settings and have the potential to generate significant process improvements and efficiencies. We understand that CBI scientists are already achieving success in integrating our newly expanded portfolio of forensic products into their workflows, and we look forward to joining forces to develop additional products for this growing field."
CBI is integrating ZyGEM's forensicGEM(TM) kits into its Fairfax Identity Laboratories DNA reference operations. A leader in the research, development and use of advanced forensic procedures, CBI's Fairfax Identity Laboratories analyze over 50,000 forensic samples each year while also developing enhanced forensic testing procedures.
"We are very pleased with the performance to date of ZyGEM's unique nucleic acid extraction technology and expect that it will continue to provide us with improvements in turnaround, efficiency and cost, especially for our growing volume of CODIS sample processing," said Thomas R. Reynolds, executive vice president of science and technology at CBI. "We also look forward to combining our complementary expertise to develop additional new products for improved DNA forensic processing."
The forensicGEM(TM) family of kits uses a proprietary enzyme to extract DNA from samples using a single closed-tube system. The forensicGEM(TM) approach simplifies laboratory workflow, minimizes error, reduces the risk of contamination and ensures sample integrity while also reducing costs. The kits are easy to automate for high-throughput applications using off-the-shelf robotic systems. They have been specifically formulated for DNA extraction from a range of different crime sample types without the need for further purification. With forensicGEM(TM), researchers can prepare samples up to three times faster than with existing products and at a lower cost.

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About ZyGEM Corp. Ltd.
ZyGEM Corporation Limited is a rapidly growing biotechnology company with a range of innovative enzyme-based products and technologies based on the company's exclusive collection of microorganisms from extreme environments. ZyGEM's technology has significant competitive advantages over existing methods and has potential applications in a number of sizeable global markets. ZyGEM currently produces DNA extraction and detection products, molecular biology enzymes and individual enzymes and diagnostics, serving life sciences customers in basic research, forensics, clinical diagnostics and agriculture. ZyGEM has facilities in New Zealand and the U.S.A.

About Commonwealth Biotechnologies, Inc.
CBI offers cutting-edge research and development products and services to the global life sciences industry. CBI now operates through: (1) CBI Services, a discovery phase contract research organization; (2) Fairfax Identity Laboratories, a DNA reference business; (3) Mimotopes Pty Ltd, Melbourne, Australia, a peptide and discovery chemistry business; (4) Exelgen Ltd, Bude, UK, a medicinal and synthetic discovery chemistry business; and (5) Venturepharm (Asia), Shanghai and Beijing, China, a contract research joint venture specializing in drug discovery and development, process scale-up, formulation development, cGMP manufacturing and clinical trial management. CBI companies directly employ over 120 staff in three world-class laboratories and have access to over 2,000 additional staff through CBI's Venturepharm (Asia) joint venture. For more information, visit CBI on the web at www.cbi-biotech.com .
Forward Looking Statements
No statement made in this press release should be interpreted as an offer to purchase any security. Such an offer can only be made in accordance with the Securities Act of 1933, as amended, and applicable state securities laws. Any statements contained in this release that relate to future plans, events or performance are forward-looking statements that involve risks and uncertainties as identified in CBI's filings with the Securities and Exchange Commission. Actual results, events or performance may differ materially. Readers are cautioned not to place undo reliance on these forward-looking statements, which speak only as the date hereof. Specifically, CBI cannot guarantee that the collaboration with ZyGEM will produce any revenues or meet the prospects referenced herein. CBI undertakes no obligation to publicly release the results of any revisions to these forward-looking statements that may be made to reflect the events or circumstances after the date hereof or to reflect the occurrence of unanticipated events.

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Contacts:
ZyGEM
Corporate:
Paul Kinnon
President and CEO
858 720-8333

Media:
Barbara Lindheim
BioCom Partners
212 918-4650

Commonwealth Biotechnologies
Corporate/Media:
Thomas Reynolds
EVP Science & Technology
804 648-3820