Advanced Instruments Signs License and Sensor Development Agreement With Cantimer, Inc.

MENLO PARK, Calif. and NORWOOD, Mass., Feb. 23 /PRNewswire/ -- Cantimer, Inc., and Advanced Instruments, Inc. today jointly announced that the two companies had signed a license and product development agreement. Under the terms of the license agreement, Advanced Instruments received an exclusive license to Cantimer's unique sensor technology for select applications in the biotech market. The Companies also entered into a Product Development Agreement for Cantimer to develop a specific sensor to integrate into Advanced Instruments' products for in-situ monitoring of osmolality in bioreactors and fermenters. The companies anticipate that a long term sensor supply agreement will follow the joint development effort and that developed products will be sold to end-users through Advanced Instruments' existing commercial network.  

"Monitoring osmolality is a critical control parameter in the biotech market. Traditionally this has been accomplished using discreet samples on a laboratory instrument. Cantimer's unique sensor technology makes it possible to measure osmolality in the bioreactor and in real time, reducing the possibility of product contamination and enabling tighter product quality control" said John Coughlin, CEO of Advanced Instruments. "The industry has been asking for this capability for many years and we believe Cantimer's technology will allow us to finally address their needs" he added.

Cantimer's sensor platform can be adapted to detect and measure a broad array of chemical and biological compounds of interest and has application in markets as large and diverse as life science research, point-of-care diagnostics, consumer health, bio-defense and environmental monitoring. The Company's technology enables the development of simple, portable devices that are robust, sensitive, low-cost, label-free and easy-to-use. In parallel to the development of its own first commercial product, a pocket device for non-invasive measurement and monitoring of changes in human hydration, the Company has undertaken a number of sensor development projects for strategic partners.

"Advanced Instruments has been a very supportive investor and an enthusiastic strategic partner", commented Robin Stracey, CEO of Cantimer, Inc. "We look forward to this joint development effort with great enthusiasm".

About Cantimer, Inc.

Cantimer is a privately-held, development stage company commercializing a patented, proprietary sensor technology platform having application in life science, bio-defense, environmental testing, point-of-care diagnostics and home health markets. The Company's first focus is on development and commercialization of point-of-care products for convenient, non-invasive, measurement and monitoring of human hydration status from saliva.

About Advanced Instruments, Inc.

Founded in 1955, Advanced Instruments, Inc. is the world's largest supplier of freezing-point cryoscopes and osmometers used in dairy, clinical, pharmaceutical, and biotechnology laboratories. The company is also a leading supplier of analytical instruments for the food and industrial microbiology markets. Based in Norwood, Massachusetts, USA, the privately held company also produces Fiske® Associates brand diagnostic instruments and operates Spiral Biotech, Inc., and Delta Instruments as wholly-owned subsidiaries. A worldwide network of direct sales people and independent distributors supports Advanced Instruments' products.

SOURCE Cantimer, Inc.