Leica Microsystems and Definiens Announce Co-Marketing in the Area of Drug Discovery Research

WETZLAR, Germany and MUNICH, April 14, 2011 /PRNewswire/ -- Leica Microsystems, a leading global designer and producer of precision optical systems, and Definiens, the leading Health Image Intelligence™ company, today announced a co-marketing agreement. Under the terms of the agreement, Definiens and Leica will cooperatively market their complementary products and host joint workshops and educational events. Customers will benefit from streamlined high-content image analysis, allowing them to better identify and understand pathways and mechanisms.

Flexibility – for imaging and analysis without limits

This partnership will cover a range of Leica microscopy hardware and Definiens XD software, which will be seamlessly integrated to optimize imaging and analysis workflows.

Leica Microsystems' confocal instrumentation produces the databases necessary to turn images into knowledge. Precision and sensitivity pair up uniquely at highest resolution of up to 64 megapixels, producing a wealth of information. The company recently released its first High Content Screening Automation package for confocal research microscopes, Leica HCS A, a highly flexible tool for automated imaging in multiple dimensions. The package enables fast and efficient multi-position experiments – from automated image recording routines to complex multi-dimensional high-content screening experiments with simultaneous image export for immediate analysis by external analysis software, such as Definiens Developer XD.

Definiens Developer XD is an integrated software development environment designed for the entire range of biomedical image analysis problems. It works with any imaging modality as well as 2D, 3D and time-lapse applications and reliably analyzes the wealth of data generated by Leica's confocal microscopes. Definiens Developer XD enables the automated analysis of cases that previously required tedious manual segmentation.

"Definiens and Leica Microsystems share a commitment to developing powerful imaging solutions that help researchers understand biological pathways faster and more accurately," said Thomas P. Heydler, CEO of Definiens. "This partnership will provide Leica customers with access to Definiens' advanced image analysis software, enabling high-content screening that directly aids drug discovery efforts around the world."

Any device format is supported – any amount of data can be processed

With the combination of Leica Microsystems TCS SP5 confocal imaging instrumentation, single and multiple projects are easy to handle – from single images that need to be evaluated at high standardization to 3D image stacks and 4D time series. Even smallest series of throughput are possible in manual process steps. The results are exported and analyzed by Definiens Developer XD within a highly automated workflow to fulfill today's demand for throughput in advanced life science research.

"Together with Definiens, we look forward to the opportunity to make highly developed and future-proof high content screening solutions widely available for academic research as well. The combination of high-sensitivity confocal technology, miniaturized sample handling and reproducible evaluation with optimized data management is a sine qua non among drug discovery strategies and the analysis of their physiological relevance," says Dr. Stefan Traeger, Managing Director of the Life Science Division of Leica Microsystems.

From single files to terabytes of data – Leica Microsystems and Definiens offer a fast, reliable and adaptive high-throughput solution to modern life science research creating a new approach to multidimensional image analysis in high content screening.

Please find more information about this topic during the 'Focus on Microscopy' conference in Constance, Germany, from April 17 – 20 at the booths of Leica (25) and Definiens.

Leica Microsystems is a world leader in microscopes and scientific instruments. Founded as a family business in the nineteenth century, the company's history was marked by unparalleled innovation on its way to becoming a global enterprise.

Its historically close cooperation with the scientific community is the key to Leica Microsystems' tradition of innovation, which draws on users' ideas and creates solutions tailored to their requirements. At the global level, Leica Microsystems is organized in four divisions, all of which are among the leaders in their respective fields: the Life Science Division, Industry Division, Biosystems Division and Medical Division.

Leica Microsystems' Biosystems Division, also known as Leica Biosystems, offers histopathology laboratories the most extensive product range with appropriate products for each work step in histology and for a high level of productivity in the working processes of the entire laboratory.

The company is represented in over 100 countries with 12 manufacturing facilities in 7 countries, sales and service organizations in 19 countries and an international network of dealers. The company is headquartered in Wetzlar, Germany.

Definiens is a leading Health Image Intelligence™ company that develops software solutions for biomedical image analysis, data mining and clinical decision support. The company's software analyzes images from cell-based assays, whole tissue slides and full body scans and allows users to correlate this information with data derived from other sources, supporting better decisions in research, diagnostics and therapy. By automating analysis workflows and generating new knowledge, Definiens provides pharmaceutical and biotechnology companies, research institutions, clinical service organizations and medical professionals with deeper insights, faster results and better decision support. Harnessing the power of image intelligence, Definiens supports personalized medicine and aims to significantly improve the quality of patients' lives.

Definiens is headquartered in Munich, Germany, and has offices throughout the United States. Further information is available at www.definiens.com.

Definiens – from images to clinical decisions.

Press Contacts
Ricochet Public Relations
Melissa Hurley
Phone: +1 212 679 3300 x128
[email protected]

Definiens
Dr. Martin Baatz
Vice President Marketing
[email protected]

Leica Microsystems GmbH
Dr. Kirstin Henze
Director Communications & Corporate Identity
[email protected]

SOURCE Leica Microsystems