PELOBIOTECH to Distribute ReachBio's Products in Germany, Austria and Switzerland

SEATTLE, Oct. 28, 2013 /PRNewswire/ -- ReachBio LLC (Seattle, WA, USA) announced today that it has signed an agreement with PELOBIOTECH GmbH (Munich, Germany) giving PELOBIOTECH exclusive distribution rights to ReachBio's full product line for the life science research market within Germany, Austria and Switzerland.

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ReachBio provides research products and contract services for applications in basic life science research, drug research & development and toxicology. The company's main product lines consist of ColonyGEL™ methylcellulose-based media for hematopoietic colony-forming cell (CFC) assays and cryopreserved normal human primary cells isolated from blood, cord blood and bone marrow.

The extensive ColonyGEL™ semi-solid media product line includes multiple formulations with different cytokine (growth factor) combinations optimized for the growth of the different progenitor cells in blood and bone marrow. In the cytokine-optimized, semi-solid environment provided by ColonyGEL™, the different progenitors grow as morphologically distinct three-dimensional colonies that can be identified and scored microscopically. The ColonyGEL™ line-up also includes formulations optimized for different species, including human, mouse, rat, dog and non-human primate.  Applications of CFC assays using ColonyGEL™ media include research into normal and abnormal hematological development, leukemia and cancer stem cells, cell therapy, stem cell biology, investigative toxicology, etc.

ReachBio's line of normal primary human cells include highly purified cell types from blood such as the various subsets of T lymphocytes, B lymphocytes, natural killer cells and monocytes. It also includes "ReachBio Qualified" CD34⁺ and CD133⁺ stem cells/primitive progenitors purified from cord blood and bone marrow that have been pre-qualified in CFC assays. ReachBio also specializes in providing customized cell isolation services for customers with specific needs such as unique cell types, particular donor background or HLA type, repeat donor cell isolations, and/or customized vial sizes.

"ReachBio is extremely happy to have PELOBIOTECH representing our products in Germany, Austria and Switzerland," said Rob Chaney, ReachBio's General Manager and COO. "We have known Peter Frost, one of the founders of PELOBIOTECH, for many years and have the utmost respect for him and his knowledge of the life science research market within these research intensive countries. He has already been aiding ReachBio's sales and business development efforts for our specialized cell biology contract research services in this same territory for the last few years with great results. So having him and PELOBIOTECH now representing our products as well is a great fit and makes perfect sense."

Said Dr. Peter Frost, CEO of PELOBIOTECH, "We are delighted to now be distributing ReachBio's ColonyGEL™ and normal human cell products. The high quality of these products reflects the reputation for quality and value that ReachBio has built regarding both its contract research services and its products. ColonyGEL™ provides researchers performing CFC assays a great alternative to the methylcellulose-based media provided by the leading competitor, which has become quite overpriced through many years of price increases. Additionally, we are happy that ReachBio is able to provide not only standard vials of high quality cryopreserved human cells but also flexible customized offerings. This is a great advantage to pharma companies that often have unique requirements for specific types of cells and a strong need for vial-to-vial and lot-to-lot reproducibility. This fits in very well with PELOBIOTECH's goal to provide customized solutions to aid our customers' research."

About ReachBio LLC
ReachBio LLC is a life sciences organization based in Seattle, WA. It provides specialized contract research services and products to biopharmaceutical, biotechnology, and related organizations worldwide.

About PELOBIOTECH GmbH
PELOBIOTECH GmbH is based in Martinsried (near Munich), Germany and is a local distributor of high quality life science research tools and reagents with a focus on primary cell and stem cell biology,  3D cell culture and media development for human primary cells.

SOURCE ReachBio LLC