Thursday, September 11, 2008

Army teams with Pressure BioSciences on biomolecule purification

By Mass High Tech Staff

Pressure BioSciences Inc. has entered into a mutual collaboration with the U.S. Army Medical Research Institute of Infectious Diseases (USAMRIID).  The agreement will allow the USAMRIID — based in Fort Detrick, Md. — to use the firm’s pressure cycling technology (PCT). The technology is designed to analyze biomolecular material (such as antigen/antibody complexes) and separate biomolecules (such as proteins) from complex mixtures.

The agreement will also enable Army researchers to use South Easton-based Pressure BioSciences’ (Nasdaq: PBIO) chemical reagents called ProteoSolve-SB. According to company officials, these methods may better enable the separation and purification of biomolecules.

The USAMRIID plans to design experimental protocols using PCT for the development of medical treatments against life threatening pathogens that could be deployed during warfare, the company stated. Scientists at the biotech and USAMRIID will be collaborating on the project.

The technology will be used to decontaminate samples of infectious pathogens for subsequent analysis and treatment development, the company said.

Pressure BioSciences reported a net loss of $1.1 million in 2007 on revenues of $650,000. The firm holds 13 U.S. and six foreign patents covering multiple applications of its technology in the life sciences field.