MDCC Molecular Devices (MM)

Molecular Devices Introduces Fatty Acid Uptake Assay to Target Metabolic Diseases SUNNYVALE, Calif., Jan. 11 /PRNewswire-FirstCall/ -- Molecular Devices Corporation (NASDAQ:MDCC) today announced the launch of its QBT(TM) Fatty Acid Uptake Assay Kit, the first assay kit that addresses the need for a single-step, homogenous in vitro assay for fatty acid uptake for use in high- throughput screening and metabolic disease research. Defects in fatty acid metabolism have been linked to several pathological states, including insulin desensitization, Type 2 diabetes, obesity and cardiovascular disease. The development of fatty acid uptake regulators as potential drugs is dependent upon having a rapid assay that can be used in high-throughput screening. Conventional assays using radioisotopes are expensive and time-consuming and have limited the ability of drug researchers to identify potential new drugs via high-throughput screening. The QBT Fatty Acid Uptake Assay removes these limitations by providing a rapid, reproducible, inexpensive method for laboratory screening. Susan Williams-Clark, Director of Marketing at Molecular Devices stated, "Working together with researchers at the Palo Alto Medical Foundation's Research Division, we have applied our proprietary quench technology to develop the first single-step homogenous assay for fatty acid uptake. Since this assay uses a fluorescence-based readout rather than a radioactivity-based one, it eliminates the safety risks associated with conventional radiolabel assays, in addition to being faster and easier to perform." Williams-Clark continued, "Prior to the development of this assay, it was extremely difficult for drug discovery researchers to study fatty acid uptake processes and identify new regulators. We believe that the QBT Fatty Acid Uptake Assay Kit will enable high-throughput screening of these drug targets and enhance fatty acid metabolism research." Similar to Molecular Devices' FLIPR Assay Kits, the QBT Fatty Acid Uptake Assay eliminates the need for cell washing steps, resulting in a faster, more streamlined route to drug discovery. Molecular Devices Corporation is a leading supplier of high-performance bioanalytical measurement systems that accelerate and improve drug discovery and other life sciences research. The Company's systems and consumables enable pharmaceutical and biotechnology companies to leverage advances in genomics, proteomics and combinatorial chemistry by facilitating the high- throughput and cost-effective identification and evaluation of drug candidates. The Company's solutions are based on its advanced core technologies that integrate its expertise in engineering, molecular and cell biology and chemistry. Molecular Devices enables its customers to improve research productivity and effectiveness, which ultimately accelerates the complex process of discovering and developing new drugs. This press release contains "forward-looking" statements, including statements related to the prospects for or potential customer use of the QBT(TM) Fatty Acid Uptake Assay Kit. Any statements contained in this press release that are not statements of historical fact may be deemed to be forward-looking statements. Words such as "believes," "anticipates," "plans," "expects," "will," and similar expressions are intended to identify forward- looking statements. There are a number of important factors that could cause the results of Molecular Devices Corporation to differ materially from those indicated by these forward-looking statements, including, among others, risks related to the development of new products and other risks detailed from time to time in the Company's SEC reports, including its Annual Report on Form 10-K for the year ended December 31, 2003, as amended, and its Quarterly Report on Form 10-Q for the quarter ended September 30, 2004. Molecular Devices Corporation does not undertake any obligation to update forward-looking statements. DATASOURCE: Molecular Devices Corporation CONTACT: Tim Harkness of Molecular Devices Corporation, +1-408-747-3533 Web site: http://www.moleculardevices.com/

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