SANTA CLARA, Calif. and SHROPSHIRE, England--(BW HealthWire)--Dec. 11, 2001--Symyx Technologies, Inc. (Nasdaq:SMMX - news) and Polymer Laboratories today announced that Polymer Laboratories will license methodologies and develop and commercialize instrumentation utilizing Symyx' patented technologies. These instruments will use Symyx' proprietary high performance liquid chromatography (HPLC and GPC) and flow injection analysis (including U.S. patent 6,175,409 and other chromatography related patents) to enable scientists to perform measurements such as molecular weight analysis, the most common polymer characterization measurement, ten times faster than with traditional techniques.
Under the terms of the license, Polymer Laboratories will develop, manufacture, and distribute several product offerings utilizing the licensed technologies, and Symyx will receive a royalty on the products sold. This is the third agreement that Symyx has entered into with a third party to commercialize instruments applying its proprietary technologies. The first such agreement was in August 1999 with Argonaut Technologies, Inc. to manufacture and market the Endeavor(TM), an 8-channel parallel pressure reactor used in pharmaceutical process development and the discovery of polymers and catalysts. The second agreement was in December 2000 with Zeton, Inc. to manufacture and market Celero(TM), an 8 channel fixed bed reactor for catalyst screening.
``Polymer Laboratories is a leading supplier of instruments for polymer separation and characterization. The addition of Symyx' high throughput polymer measurement technologies will enable us to provide our customers with advanced complete solutions in the spheres of materials discovery and online and real-time process control/monitoring systems,'' says Frank Warner, chairman and managing director of Polymer Laboratories.
``This agreement demonstrates that we are continuing our strategy of selectively licensing our technology for use in certain high throughput instruments, and are pleased to commercialize these polymer analysis techniques with such a strong partner,'' said Steve Goldby, chairman and chief executive officer of Symyx Technologies.
Polymer Laboratories, established in 1976, develops, manufactures and markets instrumentation and consumables for advanced polymer analysis and high throughput screening in drug discovery. The Company also develops and manufactures polymer particles for the fields of chromatography, clinical diagnostics, medicinal and combinatorial chemistry, with gram to tonne capability. Worldwide distribution to its blue chip and new technology company customer base is through PL's wholly owned subsidiaries and offices in the US, UK, Germany, France and The Netherlands, and its extensive distributor network elsewhere.
For more information on Polymer Laboratories, its product range and manufacturing capabilities, visit www.polymerlabs.com. PL and the PL logo are registered trademarks.
Symyx develops and applies high-speed combinatorial technologies to the discovery of materials for life science, chemical and electronics applications. Symyx provides research services to its partners through its Industry Collaborations business, seeks to license discovered materials through its Proprietary Materials programs, and offers selective access to its proprietary technologies, including instruments, software and intellectual property, through its Discovery Tools(TM) business. More than twenty leading life sciences, chemical and electronic companies are among Symyx' increasing base of worldwide partners and customers. Information about Symyx, including reports and other information filed by the Company with the Securities and Exchange Commission, is available on the worldwide web at www.symyx.com or by phoning 408/773-4095. ``Symyx'', the logo and ``Library Studio'' are registered trademarks and servicemarks of Symyx Technologies, Inc. Other trademarks of Symyx Technologies, Inc. include ``Discovery Tools'', ``Endeavor'' and ``Celero.'' |
