Pittsburgh, PA ( March 5, 2004) . -- Cellomics, Inc., the creator of and market leader in High Content Screening (HCS), announced today the launch of an instrument platform aimed at delivering automated tools for high content biology to life science researchers.

With nearly a decade of experience in developing automated high content cell analysis solutions for drug discovery, and the largest user base behind it, Cellomics now offers basic life science researchers easy and affordable access to HCS through a complete system for High Content Biology.   A Certified ArrayScan® HCS Reader, equipped with specialized algorithms for neuron and tumor cell analysis and the entire suite of Cellomics Core BioApplications comprise the package of image analysis capabilities on the Certified ArrayScan Platform.   The value of this platform is further enhanced by Cellomics High Content Informatics software that seamlessly provides access to HCS data with robust automated management.

The combination of fluorescence imaging automation, analysis, and data management that have been used for drug development in global pharmaceutical companies for years, is now available for basic life science and systems biology research at an affordable price.   The Certified ArrayScan is a pre-owned instrument that has been certified by Cellomics and includes a full one-year warranty.   “The Certified ArrayScan Platform has been equipped and priced to enable the adoption of high content biology as one tool among many in the basic science researchers repertoire,” commented Martin L. Pietila, Product Manager for the ArrayScan.   “The human cellome project will advance with the aid of automated, high-content platforms, to increase the scope and scale of experiments traditionally executed through interactive microscopy.”

The Certified ArrayScan Platform features Cellomics' recent innovations in image analysis including the Target Activation, Morphology Explorer, Extended Neurite Outgrowth, Compartmental Analysis, and Cell Motility BioApplications.   “These BioApplications are image analysis algorithms that provide customers with a comprehensive suite of tools for quantification of most complex researcher-defined cellular events,” states Dr. Sarah Burroughs Tencza, Product Manager for BioApplications.   “The ArrayScan's capabilities in the area of automated systems biology include everything from low resolution assays for angiogenic tube formation to sub cellular analysis of signaling pathways and the morphological changes that results from such signaling events.”   Dr. Richik Ghosh, Director of Assay Feasibility, explains that, "These BioApplications have been designed to enable both turnkey use by novice users and more extensive investigations by experienced scientists.   They enable multiplexed, correlated measurements of diverse phenomena simultaneously in the same cell, and include the ability to quantify multiple cellular targets involved in cellular functions and responses."   To further the analytical capabilities of the Certified ArrayScan Platform, five BioApplication algorithms are included to provide a complete product offering for neurological and cancer research.   The platform solution is supported by an extensive menu of validated HitKit® HCS Reagent Kits.

”Cellomics is the recognized leader in HCS for drug discovery.   We have taken that proven technology platform and adapted it to meet the research and economic requirements for the growing systems biology efforts in academic research,” stated Daniel J. Calvo, President and CEO of Cellomics.   “Not only do we have the validated products and technologies, but our support and training efforts to assist our customers in the adoption of high content biology into their research programs have been extremely valuable to our current collaborators at UCSF, MIT/Whitehead, and the Mayo Clinic.   Included with the purchase of our platform is a training slot in the HCS 101 training program at our HCS Center of Excellence in Pittsburgh.   This, coupled with on-site and virtual learning programs, is a critical component for our customers to unleash the power of our technology in their research programs,” asserts Calvo.

Cellomics, Inc is automating drug discovery through a unique, cell-based assay platform that addresses the needs of Drug Discovery and Systems Biology groups by offering complete systems for High Content Screening (HCS).   The platform includes HCS instrumentation (both fixed end-point and kinetic systems), informatics, cellular image analysis software (BioApplications), fluorescent reagents, kits, cell lines, and multiparametric assays.   When applied to early drug discovery, this platform is proving to reduce the 'idea-to-discovery' cycle time in drug discovery, while increasing the probability of the therapeutic success of leads as well as enhancing throughput in systems biology and basic research.   Cellomics' proprietary platforms, including the ArrayScan ® and KineticScan ® HCS Readers, along with the vHCS™ Discovery Toolbox software and BioApplications, are in use at multiple sites within all of the top fifteen pharmaceutical companies, as well as leading pharmaceutical and biotechnology companies and academic centers globally.

For further information, visit http://certified.cellomics.com or contact:

Judy P. Masucci, Ph.D.
Director of Marketing
Cellomics, Inc.
100 Technology Drive
Pittsburgh, PA 15219
412-770-2353
412-770-2450 (fax)