New Automation Partner in Drug Discovery Laboratories

Organon International has selected Beckman Coulter to supply robotic systems for molecular pharmacology departments in Scotland and The Netherlands, to replace its high throughput screening facilities for in-vitro testing of compounds for possible therapeutic value.
Once a biological target has been identified, the next phase of the drug discovery process involves testing hundreds of thousands of compounds for activity on the selected target. Organon selected Beckman Coulter technology, including Biomek Liquid Handlers and various transportation robots controlled by new SAMI EX software, for a complete re-equipping of the company's high throughput screening facilities. Moreover, the same equipment will be introduced in the labs for downstream in-vitro testing.
Steven van Helden, Director HTS & Technology in Oss, The Netherlands, explains priorities at Organon when choosing a partner to meet the company's extensive requirements: ?Laboratory automation is a vital tool in improving productivity in drug discovery. It was essential for us to find a robotic system which would be very user-friendly, as well as modular, scalable and flexible, because we will be using the new equipment for a large number of different projects. Working with Beckman Coulter has given us the ability to program complex procedures involving multiple automated plate transport systems quickly and simply.'
Arno Schoenberger European Marketing Director Biomedical Research for Beckman Coulter, outlines the approach to this highly successful relationship with Organon: ?We see this as a co-operative partnership, working closely with the company to understand their current and future requirements, developing software and equipment in response to their needs.'