Collaboration to Improve Drug-discovery Efficiency Through Automated Sample Preparation, Analysis with Unsurpassed Throughput

Agilent Technologies Inc. and BioTrove Inc. have signed an agreement to co-market the Agilent 6410 Triple Quadrupole Mass Spectrometer with BioTrove's RapidFire high-throughput sample preparation systems. The two systems together provide an integrated solution for ultra-high-throughput preparation and analysis of in vitro biological assays in pharmaceutical drug research.

"This relationship enables clients to integrate the fastest sample-preparation system on the market with the strength of leading-edge analytical mass spectrometry," said Guenter Nill, Agilent general manager, pharmaceutical and biotech market. "It significantly benefits pharmaceutical companies that want to spend less time and money discovering new leads and developing more effective medicines."

Using innovative microfluidic technology for sample preparation and analysis faster than eight seconds per sample, RapidFire Mass Spectrometry (RF-MS) eliminates bottlenecks created by traditional mass spectrometry throughput. It has been used by 10 of the top 15 pharmaceutical companies as an established drug-discovery tool for more than four years. RF-MS is routinely used in applications including the high-throughput screening of previously intractable drug targets, cytochrome P450 inhibition and other pre-clinical ADME assays, as well as in directed evolution studies.

The Agilent 6410 Triple Quadrupole LC/MS establishes a new standard for value in a triple quadrupole mass spectrometer, delivering outstanding sensitivity and great ease of use along with traditional Agilent reliability. Femtogram-level sensitivity and rugged, reliable performance make this the instrument of choice for drug discovery and development.