Cellix Ltd. Launches VenaEC Biochip for Flow-based Cell-adhesion Assays

Cellix Ltd., an international provider of microfluidic systems in the emerging field of nano-lifesciences, announces today its worldwide launch of the VenaEC Biochip. The VenaEC Biochip enables researchers to execute physiologically relevant flow experiments evaluating the adhesion of suspension cells to an endothelial cell monolayer. Dr. Kate Fitzgerald, Applications Scientist at Cellix, will deliver a tutorial workshop to discuss the benefits of the new biochip as it applies to Cellix's current microfluidic platforms at 8:00 am on Monday, April 7th at the SBS 14th Annual Conference at the America's Center, Room 232, in St. Louis, MO.

The VenaEC biochip is the second generation biochip to Cellix's Vena8(TM) Biochip. As with the first generation Vena8 Biochip, a wide range of suspension cell samples may be used with the VenaEC including T-cells, monocytes, neutrophils, eosinophils, platelets and whole blood (heparanized). Compatible with both the VenaFlux(TM) and Microfluidic SP Platforms, the VenaEC Biochip can be used to produce IC50 curves under shear stress conditions mimicking physiological flow. This Biochip is an important addition to Cellix's product port folio offering scientists an unique and robust cell-based assay tool for drug discovery, particularly in lead optimization studies and in parallel with animal models.

"The VenaEC Biochip gives researchers a physiological snap-shot of how a potential lead candidate will affect cells in a human capillary," said Vivienne Williams, CEO of Cellix Ltd. "This is a robust in-vitro cell-based assay that will give major pharmaceutical and biotechnology companies powerful data and a competitive edge on how their lead candidates will perform in clinical trials."

About the VenaEC Biochip

Each VenaEC Biochip comprises one top plate and four substrates easily assembled in a custom-made frame for inverted microscopes. The top plate contains two microcapillaries which each tissue culture-treated substrate enables the seeding and culturing of a variety of endothelial cells. Minimum cell sample volume is 10mL making it ideal for studying rare cell types or low sample volumes. Shear stress ranges from 0.05 - 100 dyne/cm2 in steps of 0.05 dyne/cm2 using Cellix's Mirus(TM) Nanopump which is part of the VenaFlux(TM) platform. VenaEC Biochips are sold in packs of 10 facilitating 80 experiments. Cells derived from different endothelial tissues can be grown easily and successfully on the VenaEC Biochip. Validated examples to date include a Human Coronary Artery Endothelial Cell (HCAEC) monolayer for the investigation of monocyte adhesion for cardiovascular diseases and a Human Microvascular Endothelial Cell (HMVEC) monolayer for the investigation of eosinophil adhesion for respiratory diseases.

About Cellix Ltd.

Cellix Ltd. is a privately held instrumentation and cell-based assay company developing technologies that accurately mimic cellular behavior in vivo for cell-based screening in drug discovery. The Company is headquartered in Dublin, Ireland, and maintains offices in New York City. For further information visit http://www.cellixltd.com.