IVGN Invitrogen (MM)

Invitrogen Corporation (NASDAQ:IVGN), a provider of technologies for research, production and diagnostics, has introduced its custom PD-Direct� Bioprocess Services optimized for clinically compliant stem cell culture systems. This service will help stem cell therapy developers reduce risks through serum-free production systems, improve manufacturing productivity, and provide on-demand expertise in stem cell media development. As scientists strive to translate stem cell research into viable therapeutics, they must develop robust processes to produce these cells in quantities large enough to supply their patients� specific disease or condition. The science of each stem cell type is different and complex, and off-the-shelf products may not enable therapeutic developers to achieve their goals without significant additional investment. PD-Direct� Bioprocess Services for stem cells offer tailored services that help cell therapeutics developers ensure that they obtain the best products that also meet regulatory guidelines. �Part of maturing the market of stem cell therapy will be taking the cells from the research bench to actually treating patients,� said Paul Pickering, General Manager of the Cell Therapy Systems Business Unit. �We are delighted to be able to offer stem cell therapy developers access to our industry leading expertise in clinically compliant stem cell culture systems through our PD Direct� Bioprocess Services.� The new PD-Direct� stem cell culture services alleviate development challenges by offering: Identification of substrates and enzymes that support cell growth and passaging Determination of cell nutritional and supplementation needs Optimization of complete media formulations for key performance and cell characteristics IP management strategies Design of formulations for clinical compliance and supply chain risk mitigation Seamless transfer to Good Manufacturing Processes (GMP) formulation and manufacturing �By leveraging Invitrogen�s leading technologies in the field of cell culture media development, PD-Direct� has proven to be a valuable service to biotherapeutic developers globally. We have translated this expertise to the development of cell therapies and are now able to offer customization programs to clients seeking to increase the clinical compliance of their cell therapeutics manufacturing platforms,� said Trent Carrier, General Manager PD-Direct� Bioprocess Services. At this week�s International Society for Cellular Therapy Somatic Cell Therapy Symposium, Invitrogen will be sponsoring a Corporate Breakfast Education Session entitled �Preparing for Commercialization: Case studies in productivity enhancement and risk mitigation for cell therapy manufacturing.� The session, occurring Tuesday, September 23, 2008 at 7:40 AM, will feature guest speakers discussing topics specifically relevant to cell therapeutics manufacturing including productivity enhancement and risk mitigation. Invitrogen is the premier supplier of tools and reagents for stem cell research. The launch of stem cell media services follows other new product releases such as STEMPRO� MSC SFM, the first serum-free media designed specifically to culture mesenchymal stem cells, as well as CELLstart�, the first fully defined, completely animal origin free substrate in the marketplace for the attachment and expansion of embryonic, mesenchymal and neural stem cells. Invitrogen offers researchers more than 1,200 products tailored to various parts of the stem cell research workflow for embryonic and adult stem cell populations. For more information, please visit www.invitrogen.com/celltherapy and www.invitrogen.com/pddirect. About Invitrogen Invitrogen Corporation (NASDAQ:IVGN) provides products and services that support academic and government research institutions and pharmaceutical and biotech companies worldwide in their efforts to improve the human condition. The company provides essential life science technologies for disease research, drug discovery, and commercial bioproduction. Invitrogen's own research and development efforts are focused on breakthrough innovation in all major areas of biological discovery including functional genomics, proteomics, stem cells, cell therapy and cell biology -- placing Invitrogen's products in nearly every major laboratory in the world. Founded in 1987, Invitrogen is headquartered in Carlsbad, California, and conducts business in more than 70 countries around the world. The company employs approximately 4,700 scientists and other professionals and had revenues of approximately $1.3 billion in 2007. For more information, visit www.invitrogen.com. Safe Harbor Statement Certain statements contained in this press release are considered "forward-looking statements" within the meaning of the Private Securities Litigation Reform Act of 1995, and it is Invitrogen's intent that such statements be protected by the safe harbor created thereby. Forward looking statements include, but are not limited to; 1) The PD-Direct� service will help stem cell therapy developers reduce risks through serum-free production systems, improve manufacturing productivity, and provide on-demand expertise in stem cell media development; 2) Part of maturing the market of stem cell therapy will be taking the cells from the research bench to treating patients. Potential risks and uncertainties include, but are not limited to; a); stem cell therapy developers may or may not increase the clinical compliance of their manufacturing platform; and the risks that the market will not accept the companies� products and services, or that the companies will be unsuccessful in their efforts to develop new products and services, as well as other risks and uncertainties detailed from time to time in Invitrogen's Securities and Exchange Commission filings.