CALP, HistoRx collaborate to co-develop new generation of tissue-based imaging solutions

Caliper Life Sciences, Inc. (Nasdaq: CALP) and HistoRx, Inc., today announced a collaboration to co-develop a new generation of tissue-based imaging and analysis solutions, based on immuno-fluorescence, that will deliver accurate, quantitative, and reproducible measurements of proteins in tissue samples. The collaboration will enable researchers to leverage the combined imaging and analysis power of Caliper's Vectra™, an automated multiplexed tissue imaging platform, and AQUA® technology, HistoRx's proprietary image analysis system, to provide an integrated platform to advance the identification and validation of new drug targets and improve assessment of drug response.  

"The Vectra system from Caliper represents a significant move forward for researchers interested in digital pathology with multispectral, brightfield, and fluorescent capabilities," said Bill Sullivan, Senior Vice President of Operations at HistoRx.  "By matching AQUA technology's intensity-based quantitative measurement with Caliper's market leading multispectral imaging capabilities, users will be afforded a level of quality and performance that is unparalleled. Caliper is therefore a natural partner for HistoRx in bringing reproducible and truly quantitative immunohistochemistry to the anatomic pathology laboratory."  

"The combination of Caliper and HistoRx technologies enables an unprecedented level of objective and accurate diagnosis that is currently lacking, both on the research level as well as the clinical level," said Kevin Hrusovsky, President and Chief Executive Officer of Caliper Life Sciences.  "We see an opportunity to bring a comprehensive solution to the research market to help expand scientists' options for capturing key disease signatures and to aid in the development of new drugs and new strategies to battle cancer."

Under the agreement, Caliper will have exclusive worldwide distribution rights for the integrated product in the life sciences research market as the companies continue to explore additional collaborative opportunities in clinical research and diagnostics.  The AQUA technology is complimentary to Caliper's inForm™ image analysis software, a flexible investigative tool using trainable pattern recognition algorithms, providing multi-analyte, per-cell quantification in FFPE tissues.  AQUA provides a simple-to-use, pre-configured and automated quantification of single biomarkers, using validated AQUA multi-label kits, producing platform-independent AQUA 'scores'.  Together, they provide a comprehensive suite of tools to correlate protein expressions with disease progression, clinical outcome or response to therapy.

Caliper expects to launch the AQUA enabled Vectra platform in August of 2011.

SOURCE Caliper Life Sciences, Inc.