Proteome Systems launches ProteomIQ, moves into Japan

Sydney-based company Proteome Systems' proteomics R&D system, ProteomIQ, has been launched on the market.

The system is an integrated combination of electrophoresis separation technology, robotics and mass spectrometry, linked with an enterprise-level IT platform.

Marc Wilkins, Proteome Systems' executive vice-president for bioinformatics, said the system had been created "from the ground up for proteomics."

"ProteomIQ...delivers comprehensive outcomes through its ability to decipher proteomic complexity," he said.

The company developed ProteomIQ with key partners IBM, Shimadzu Biotech, Millipore, Sigma-Aldrich and ThermoFinnigan.

"Our technology has been developed by practitioners of proteomics, specifically for proteome research, and has been rigorously tested in our in-house projects in cystic fibrosis, cancer, infectious diseases and aging," said CEO Keith Williams.

"Our ability to test our approaches in demanding in-house discovery programs sets us apart from other vendors of proteomic technology."

Other companies on the market with proteomic systems of varying degrees of integration include Applied Biosystems, Amersham, Bio-Rad and Micromass.

Key to the system is a bio-IT package that includes BioinformatIQ, a web-based intranet application that controls laboratory instrumentation and centralises all research outcomes into an IBM DB2 database software hosted on IBM eServer pSeries systems.

Eddie Clunies-Ross, IBM Australia's healthcare and life sciences industry manager, said platforms like ProteomIQ would change the nature of healthcare research.

"IBM's enterprise level information technology provides the processing power to analyse hundreds to thousands of proteins per day, and the capacity to store massive amounts of information from large research programs," he said. "ProteomIQ is scalable to meet the requirements of any size research facility by adding instrumentation and users as required, and the use of IBM pSeries eServer ensures scalability, data security and high availability to meet user demands."

Proteome Systems deputy CEO John Martin explained that the company had used t he system for its own business for some time, but it was now available commercially.

He said the company was now exploring a number of opportunities for placing the system both within Australia and overseas.

"It's very much an Australian creation," he said.

Japanese partnership

Meanwhile, Proteome Systems has teamed with Itochu Corp to launch Proteome Systems Japan.

The new company aims to provide proteomics discovery services to Japanese companies, universities and institutes.

Williams said he saw the Japanese market as a future leader in the adoption of proteomics.

"The Japanese science community has a strong history in protein science and is well positioned to capitalise on this background by using proteomics to enhance and optimise their research and development outcomes," he said.

Itochu is a global, diversified company with strong IT and biobusiness interests. Williams said the partnership would complement Proteome Systems' collaboration with Shimadzu in developing instrumentation for proteomics research.

Itochu senior managing director Akira Yokota said the company had already launched its own bio-IT centre, which provided drug discovery support services to Japanese firms. "We are delighted to have the opportunity to work with one of the most experienced proteomics companies," he said. "We are confident that the combination of Proteome Systems' expertise in proteomics technology and discovery, and Itochu's experience in IT, will see our joint venture become the first market leader in the Japanese proteomics market."

Proteome Systems Japan will be launched in July 2002 and will operate from Tokyo.