Agilent Technologies Secures Exclusive
License to Aktiv-Dry CAN-BD SprayDrying Technology for Nucleic Acid
API's
SANTA CLARA, Calif., and BOULDER, Colo., April 30, 2008
Agilent Technologies Inc. (NYSE: A) today announced
that it has secured an exclusive license to Aktiv-Dry's
CAN-BD drying technology for nucleic acid active
pharmaceutical ingredients (API's). CAN-BD is a
continuous drying technology that produces uniform
particles of low moisture nucleic acids, under very
mild conditions, in a fraction of the time required by
current batch freeze-drying methods. The closed nature
of the drying and collection system also reduces the
risk of product contamination. The new spray-drying
technology is expected to significantly reduce capital
requirements and labor costs associated with largescale drying of therapeutic nucleic acids.
"Agilent has long recognized that nucleic acid drying
methods present a significant barrier to economic
production of nucleic acid therapeutics at commercial
scale," said James Powell, general manager of Agilent's
Nucleic Acid Solutions Division. "We have been actively
evaluating alternative technologies, and we are now
confident that Aktiv-Dry's CAN-BD technology will
significantly lower cost-of-goods for our customers
while providing a higher-quality nucleic acid API."
Agilent will present a poster on this technology
entitled "CAN-BD: A Novel Drying Technology for
Therapeutic Oligonucleotides" at the upcoming TIDES
Conference at Red Rock Resort and Spa in Las Vegas,
Nev., May 19-21. For additional information about the
CAN-BD drying technology, please visit Agilent at booth
514 at the TIDES Conference.
About Agilent in Nucleic Acids
Agilent, through its Nucleic Acid Solutions Division,
is a leading provider of therapeutic nucleic acid
development services and manufacturing solutions for
the biotech and pharmaceutical industries. The division
operates a 33,500 square foot cGMP nucleic acid API
contract manufacturing facility in Boulder, Colo. The
state-of-the-art facility manufactures of a wide range
of nucleic acid therapeutics, including DNA, RNA,
phosphorothioates, mixed PO/PSs, aptamers, conjugated
aptamers, siRNA and various modified RNAs. In addition
to manufacturing cGMP nucleic acid therapeutics,
Agilent also offers an array of turnkey services,
including development of analytical methods and
processes, stability studies, and regulatory support.
Information about Agilent's Nucleic Acid Solutions
Division is available at
www.agilent.com/chem/nucleicacid.
About Aktiv-Dry LLC
Aktiv-Dry LLC was founded in 2002 by University of
Colorado Professors Robert Sievers and John Carpenter,
and also by Brian Quinn, Ph.D., to develop life-saving
stable vaccines and pharmaceuticals for needle-free
delivery. The company currently engages in research and
development projects for dry powder applications and
contracts with industrial, governmental and not-forprofit clients. For more information, call +1 303 350
3060, X-101 and visit the Web site at www.aktivdry.com.
About Agilent Technologies
Agilent Technologies Inc. (NYSE: A) is the world's
premier measurement company and a technology leader in
communications, electronics, life sciences and chemical
analysis. The company's 19,000 employees serve
customers in more than 110 countries. Agilent had net
revenues of $5.4 billion in fiscal 2007. Information
about Agilent is available on the Web at
www.agilent.com.
# # #
Contact:
Eric Endicott
Agilent Technologies
+1 408 553 2005
eric_endicott@agilent.com
Brian Quinn, Ph.D.
Aktiv-Dry LLC
+1 303 350 3060 Ext 101
bquinn@aktiv-dry.com