Phaging into arrays

Biosite Diagnostics Inc. believes it can make an interesting and sustainable business from in vitro diagnostics, using its Omniclonal phage display technology as leverage to gain access to new, proprietary disease targets under investigation by others. Last week's deal with Large Scale Biology Corp. adds a layer to BSTE's strategy. The companies will provide content for protein arrays, and BSTE will have in vitro diagnostic rights to disease markers LSBC identifies for this project.

BSTE (San Diego, Calif.) has developed a platform for rapidly validating proteins useful as diagnostics by using Omniclonal to make antibodies to the proteins. The company then analyzes the antibodies against clinical patient samples obtained through partnerships with academic laboratories, said Gunars Valkirs, vice president of R&D...