The Finia Fill and Finish System is a first-of-its-kind device developed to help bring reproducibility and control to cell therapy manufacturing. Finia is a fully automated, modular, functionally closed system that creates the final formulation of cell and gene therapies and divides them into user-defined doses for patients. The technology automates a process that is currently manual and labour-intensive with the added risk of error. The production and delivery of cell-based therapies is a complex and logistically challenging process. Developers and manufacturers appreciate support in determining when to automate, which processes to automate and how to integrate automation into their existing process. Finia combines, mixes and divides the final product into predetermined volumes, all under controlled, refrigerated temperature. It automatically removes air before it seals the final product bags, simplifying the downstream process. Finia also works with Terumo BCT’s Cell Processing Application software in the customers’ network to facilitate compliance to current good manufacturing practices (cGMP), including electronic record-keeping, control of process workflow, user credentialing and permission, and guidance of operators through the process with an intuitive user interface module (UIM).
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Using aluminium foil or plastic wrap to cap beakers and flasks has always been a quick fix with questionable effectiveness. In an effort to provide lids that are safe and easy to use, DWK Life Sciences, a leading manufacturer of precision labware, has developed KIMBLE® Silicon Lids that stretch and conform to beaker tops for a tight and secure seal.
Available in three sizes and three colours, KIMBLE Silicon Lids easily conform to fit on beakers, flasks, bottles and cylinders. The stretchy silicone material creates a seal on spouts, beaded tops or threaded necks on glass or plastic vessels. The lids are resistant to heat and chemicals and designed with tabs, so they are easy to put on or take off, even when wearing gloves. Dishwasher-safe and reusable, the lids are a sustainable solution for environmentally conscious labs. The lids come in bright colours for easy colour coding.
“We’ve been surprised with the popularity of these unique covers – we knew they were safe, secure and provided a better seal for different laboratory containers, but we were just as happy to see how scientists liked their appearance – they’re using the lids to improve the appearance of the labs by replacing makeshift foil caps and stoppers with bright colours,” said Rick Schwartz, Senior Vice President of Marketing and Sales at DWK Life Sciences. “There is currently no other lab grade product available that remotely resembles our lids.”
KIMBLE Silicon Lids have stretchable diameters; small 43 to 61 mm diameter, medium 64 to 76 mm diameter, and large lids are 84 to 116 mm diameter. Colour choices include pink, green and blue. Lids easily accommodate most 50 ml beakers up to 800 ml beakers. The silicon is resistant to most chemicals and withstands heat with a usable temperature range of 40°C to 180°C. KIMBLE Silicon Lids are sold individually or in packages of 3 containing a small, medium and large sized lid in each package.
For more information, visit: https://dwk.com/colorsplash
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Bio-Rad Laboratories, a specialist in life science research and clinical diagnostic products, has extended its range of recombinant monoclonal anti-idiotypic antibodies with the introduction of antibodies that are specific for ipilimumab (Yervoy) and the ipilimumab/CTLA-4 drug-target complex. These highly specific and high-affinity antibodies are suitable for bioanalytical and patient drug level monitoring assays for the immune checkpoint inhibitor: ipilimumab.
Bio-Rad also announced the launch of a range of anti-certolizumab pegol inhibitory antibodies to support the development of assays for therapeutic drug monitoring of tumor necrosis factor (TNF) alpha inhibitors.
Ipilimumab activates the immune system by inhibiting cytotoxic T lymphocyte-associated antigen 4 (CTLA-4), a protein receptor that hinders the destruction of cancerous cells, to treat cancers such as melanoma. The four anti-ipilimumab antibodies inhibit the binding of the drug to its target, CTLA-4, and therefore detect free drug. These antibodies are suitable for developing pharmacokinetic (PK) bridging ELISAs and being used as a surrogate positive control (or reference standard) for anti-drug antibody assays. The drug-target complex binder specifically recognizes the ipilimumab/CTLA-4 complex and can be used as the detection antibody in a PK antigen capture assay as an alternative format to the bridging ELISA.
The recombinant monoclonal anti-idiotypic antibodies are generated using the Human Combinatorial Antibody Library (HuCAL®) and CysDisplay®, a proprietary method of phage display with guided selection methods to obtain highly targeted reagents. The recombinant production method also ensures a consistent and secure supply.
The anti-ipilimumab antibodies are approved for in vitro research and for commercial applications of in vitro testing services that support preclinical and clinical drug and biosimilar development and patient monitoring.
Anti-certolizumab pegol inhibitory antibodies
The range of recombinant monoclonal anti-idiotypic antibodies comprises three antibodies that are highly specific for the monoclonal antibody Fab fragment certolizumab pegol (Cimzia) and inhibit the binding of this drug to its target: TNF alpha. The antibodies are fully human in full length IgG format and can be used as a surrogate positive control or calibration standard for an ADA assay to measure levels of patient anti-drug antibodies.
TNF alpha inhibitors are used to treat a wide range of inflammatory conditions such as rheumatoid arthritis, Crohn’s disease, and psoriasis. The levels of serum drug and ADA concentrations are monitored in patients receiving TNF alpha antagonists to help guide clinical decision making, optimize treatment, improve outcomes, and reduce healthcare costs.
The anti-certolizumab pegol antibodies are approved for in vitro research and for commercial applications of in vitro testing services that support preclinical and clinical drug and biosimilar development and patient monitoring.
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DOAC Stop eliminates all direct oral anti-coagulants (DOACs) from test plasmas, making it possible to obtain valid results for all conventional coagulation assays and tests for thrombophilia.  This adsorbent has amazing affinity for DOACs but no effect on clotting proteins, antibodies or heparins. Because it extracts only DOACs, a clotting test result which remains abnormal can be assumed to have other causes.  DOAC Stop minitabs (one/ml) disperse readily in plasma and take less than 5 minutes to bind more than 95% of DOACs in most cases. The adsorbent is quickly removable after it has done its work by centrifugation.  The minitabs work equally well on direct thrombin inhibitors (eg dabigatran) and those against FXa (rivaroxaban, apixaban, edoxaban) and have no effect on heparins or warfarin plasmas.  In most cases DOAC levels can be estimated quickly from the ratio of clotting test results before to after the extraction via an appropriate calibration curve. The best results are obtainable using high phospholipid dRVVT or APTT reagents.

HAEMATEX
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Shimadzu’s iMLayer boosts spatial resolution for MS imaging experiments. It enables reproducible matrix coating with small crystals and minimizes delocalization effects. Get a crystal clear view of microstructures in your sample.
Features

• Creation of fine matrix crystals by unique matrix vapor deposition technology (sublimation) enabling high resolution MS imaging experiments
• Minimized delocalization effects compared to conventional spraying method due to sublimation technique
• Good reproducibility through automated matrix layer thickness control
• Simple touch pad operation making the easy-to-use standalone instrument a sample preparation tool for any MS imaging experiment

For information please click here.
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