SAFC Introduces the First Commercially Available Novel CHOZN® GS Knockout CHO Cell Line

ST. LOUIS, Oct. 27, 2011 /PRNewswire/ -- Sigma-Aldrich Corporation (NASDAQ: SIAL) today announced that its custom manufacturing and services business unit, SAFC® (www.safcglobal.com), is introducing a novel CHOZN® GS-/- Zinc Finger Nuclease (ZFN)-modified Chinese Hamster Ovary (CHO) cell line. Designed for use in the production of biopharmaceuticals, the new CHOZN GS-/- cell line is the first commercially available glutamine synthetase (GS) knockout CHO cell line proven to shorten bioproduction times in early development, enabling customers to enhance their speed-to-market and increase cost efficiency. For more information, visit www.safcglobal.com/chozn.

CHOZN GS-/- was developed using SAFC's proprietary CompoZr® ZFN technology, that inactivates the glutamine synthetase gene rendering the cells dependent on L-glutamine. Development timelines for biopharmaceuticals can be shortened, as the cells do not require MSX (or L-Methionine-D, L-sulfoximine) selection for production clone development. "Knocking out" the GS gene that produces this enzyme means the addition of this MSX inhibitor is no longer required for r-protein clone selection, providing enhanced supply chain security, decreasing development time for identification of producing clones, and enabling customers to file Investigational New Drug (IND) applications sooner. The parental cell line is cGMP banked using Animal Component Free (ACF), Chemically Defined (CD) media and has extensive viral testing, along with a traceable history.

"The CHOZN GS-/- CHO cell line provides a solid foundation for SAFC's continued cell line development program," says Bruce Lehr, SAFC Director of Cell Sciences and Development. "It is expected to reduce production timelines, enabling customers to take their molecules to the clinic faster. Furthermore, it sets the stage for future products and capabilities in the area of upstream biopharmaceutical process development."

This new line follows the July, 2011 release of the CHOZN DHFR-/- CHO line. For more information on CHOZN DHFR and other CHOZN cell lines, visit www.safcglobal.com/chozn.

For more information on SAFC's CompoZr ZFN offer, visit: www.safcglobal.com/zfnkits.

For more information on SAFC's Cell Design Studio (CDS) offer, visit: www.safcglobal.com/cces.

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About SAFC®: SAFC is the custom manufacturing and services business unit of Sigma-Aldrich Corporation. We are recognized as a top 10 global fine chemical supplier and trusted manufacturer of specialty chemicals and biologics for the life science and high technology industries. Utilizing global "Centers of Excellence" and dedicated manufacturing facilities, SAFC can often resolve development and manufacturing challenges and accelerate the production of custom materials. Our rich portfolio includes high-purity inorganic materials for high technology applications, cell culture products, services for biopharmaceutical manufacturing and biochemical production, and complex, multi-step organic synthesis of APIs and key intermediates. For more information about SAFC, visit www.safcglobal.com.

About Sigma-Aldrich: Sigma-Aldrich is a leading Life Science and High Technology company. Its biochemical and organic chemical products and kits are used in scientific and genomic research, biotechnology, pharmaceutical development, the diagnosis of disease and as key components in pharmaceutical and other high technology manufacturing. The Company has customers in life science companies, university and government institutions, hospitals, and in industry. Over one million scientists and technologists use its products. Sigma-Aldrich operates in 40 countries and has 8,300 employees providing excellent service worldwide. Sigma-Aldrich is committed to Accelerating Customer Success through Innovation and Leadership in Life Science, High Technology and Service. For more information about Sigma-Aldrich, please visit its award-winning web site at www.sigma-aldrich.com.

Sigma-Aldrich, CompoZr, SAFC and CHOZN are registered trademarks of Sigma-Aldrich Co. LLC.

SOURCE Sigma-Aldrich