Odyssey Thera is First to Install Next Generation High-Content Imaging Capability

SAN RAMON, Calif., Nov. 29, 2011 /PRNewswire/ -- Odyssey Thera, Inc., a technology provider focused on deciphering biologically-relevant pathways in human cells, announced today that it has installed the IN Cell Analyzer 6000, a laser-based confocal imaging platform from GE Healthcare, to advance the world's largest high-content assay capability.

Odyssey Thera applies a systems biology approach to advance knowledge of the complex cellular networks responsible for biologically–relevant pathway activity. The company has advanced proprietary, cell-based technologies including protein-fragment complementation assays (PCAs) that allow protein-protein complexes to be precisely imaged and localized within live cells.

Using PCA and other technologies, Odyssey has created the world's largest high-content assay capability. Fully-integrated hardware, software and IT infrastructure enables very high throughput, creating a unique systems- and chemical-biology platform capable of capturing and analyzing hundreds of thousands of microscopic images per day.

The IN Cell Analyzer 6000 employs a unique optical engine combined with a next generation sCMOS detector to support high-throughput and high-resolution imaging of diverse biological events. In contrast to conventional fixed aperture confocal systems, the proprietary IN Cell Analyzer 6000 optical system features a fully adjustable variable aperture for increased flexibility.

"The IN Cell 6000 is designed for the most demanding high-content cellular applications, including live cell assays, 3D imaging, co-localization studies and imaging of assays with low signal. The choice of GE Healthcare's IN Cell 6000 reflects Odyssey's goal of maintaining our leadership position in highly contextual cellular analysis," said John K. Westwick, Ph.D., President and CEO of Odyssey Thera.

"The Odyssey team will use the IN Cell 6000 for multiple projects, including advancement of partner drug discovery programs and collaborative work with the United States Environmental Protection Agency (EPA), in which methods are being developed to improve detection of environmental toxicants," said Jane E. Lamerdin, Ph.D., Executive Director of R&D at Odyssey Thera.

About Odyssey Thera

Odyssey Thera, Inc. is a privately held biotechnology company based in San Ramon, California. The company is a leading developer of enabling technologies focused on deciphering biologically-relevant pathways in living human cells to improve the process of target and drug discovery and to advance methods for environmental chemical toxicity assessment. Patents owned by Odyssey Thera cover the use of the PCA technology in human cells, live animals, plants, diagnostic and biomarker, bioprocess, biodefense, and environmental applications. To learn more about Odyssey Thera, please visit www.odysseythera.com.

About GE Healthcare

GE Healthcare provides transformational medical technologies and services that are shaping a new age of patient care. Our expertise in medical imaging and information technologies, medical diagnostics, patient monitoring systems, performance improvement, drug discovery, and biopharmaceutical manufacturing technologies is helping clinicians around the world re-imagine new ways to predict, diagnose, inform and treat disease, so their patients can live their lives to the fullest. Headquartered in the United Kingdom, GE Healthcare is a $17 billion unit of General Electric Company (NYSE: GE). Worldwide, GE Healthcare employs more than 46,000 people committed to serving healthcare professionals and their patients in more than 100 countries. For more information about GE Healthcare, visit our website at www.gehealthcare.com.

SOURCE Odyssey Thera, Inc.