News

Axxam installed a new technology platform for performing robotic high throughput screening (HTS) and ultra high-throughput screening (uHTS) of chemical libraries. Axxam implemented the most advanced instrumentation (CyBiTM-Cellight (CyBio AG) and FLIPRtetraTM (Molecular Devices Corporation Inc.) in a highly integrated and centralized structure, capable of performing screening campaigns which can generate over a million test points per day. The new instrumentation operates with 384-well and 1536-well microtitre plates (MTPs) and provides a technologically advanced automated screening station integrating downstream existing platforms of bioinformatics, target biology and cellular and biochemical screening assay development.

Dompé pha.r.ma and Axxam Announce Drug Discovery and Development Collaboration Dompé pha.r.ma s.p.a. and Axxam SpA announced a research collaboration for the discovery and development of novel drugs based on GPCR targets. Scientists from both companies will contribute to the drug discovery and development process for relevant disease targets. Steps in the process include target identification,assay development, library assembly, screening, medicinal chemistry, hit to lead optimization, pharmacology, and preclinical and clinical development. Dompé pha.r.ma will bring expertise in the field of medicinal chemistry, oriented to the rational drug design of small molecular weight GPCRs modulators and in the pre-clinical and clinical development of innovative drugs. Axxam will contribute its own experience and know-how in target biology, assay development and high-throughput screening.

Axxam Receives European Patent for Innovative Technology Photina® Axxam is pleased to announce the award of European Patent number EP1413584, entitled “Photoprotein with improved bioluminescence”, describing the company’s proprietary photoprotein known as Photina®. The invention provides a chimeric photoprotein with improved luminescent activity and its use as a calcium indicator in reporter gene systems and in cell-based assays for the detection and measurement of intracellular calcium. This novel calcium-detecting photoprotein yields superior signal levels and is applicable to a large number of different screening platforms for the pharmaceutical industry and for the study of any biological process involving calcium release.

Axxam Collaborates with CyBio AG Axxam and CyBio have signed a contract to cooperate in the development and marketing of new technologies for drug discovery using automated luminescence screening systems. Open PDF document

Axxam Awarded € 1.1 million grant Axxam Awarded Substantial Funding by the Regione Lombardia (Metadistretti) with € 1.1 million grant to support one of the company’s innovative projects in the field of Cell-based Screening Assays. Open PDF document

Axxam Awarded € 6.7 million grant Axxam Awarded Substantial Funding by the Italian Ministry of Research (MIUR) with € 6.7 million grant to support the company’s projects in Drug Discovery Technologies. Open PDF document

Axxam Researchers Present at the 10th SBS Conference At the 10th SBS Conference, Orlando (Florida), Axxam representatives presented oral communications on the following topics: “A comprehensive GPCR assay platform”, Lia Scarabottolo “An integrated platform for high throughput expression of human proteases”, Daniele Carettoni

Photina® Patent The European Patent Office released a communication under Rule 51(4) with the intention to grant Axxam’s application n° 02 023 452.2, entitled “Photoprotein with improved bioluminescence”, which covers the use of Photina® in all European Countries. For the same subject a PCT Application has been filed for the rest of the world and is currently under examination.

Axxam Presents Photoprotein Photina® New data on Axxam’s calcium-sensitive new photoprotein Photina® presented at the 8th International Drug Discovery Conference organized by Molecular Devices Corp. Open PDF document

Axxam Appoints Gyorgy Simon as Head, Bioinformatics Mr. Gyorgy Simon has been appointed as Head, Bioinformatics. Mr. Simon was previously with FIMO, FIRC Institute of Molecular Oncology, as Head of Informatics Services based in Milan, Italy. There he was responsible for establishing and directing the general purpose and bioinformatics computer systems as well as for the development of application software of research assistance. Prior to that position, Mr. Simon worked at other academic institutions, as the Tigem (Telethon Institute of Genetics and Medicine) and ICGB at Trieste, applying biotechnology and bioinformatics as responsible for the information technology. Mr. Simon’s education includes a B.Sc. in Computer Systems Organization, (SZAMALK – Computer Application and Training Center) and an M.Sc. in Chemical Engineering with specialization in Biological Engineering (Technical University) both obtained at Budapest, Hungary. At Axxam, he will be focusing on the bioinformatics systems to support the company’s research activities, as well as for the development of project-oriented software components.