These two products reduce metal concentrations to low PPM levels facilitating multi-step synthesis and accurate scavenging
Under the first agreement Reaxa and Biotage will develop MicroEnCat, an encapsulated palladium catalyst range optimised for use in Biotage's microwave synthesisers, including the development of prefilled microwave vials and flow-through devices.
The second agreement offers Reaxa's macroporous QuadraPure metal scavenging resins conveniently prepacked in Biotage Flash purification cartridges.
These two products reduce metal concentrations to low PPM levels facilitating multi-step synthesis and accurate scavenging.
"The Reaxa partnership offers chemists a novel way to address palladium catalysed reactions with the proven speed of Biotage with microwave synthesizers and flash purification instruments.
These are powerful new tools," stated Dave Patteson, president of Biotage's discovery chemistry business.
"These agreements are significant for taking Reaxa's 'easier, cleaner, faster' chemistry products into ready-to-use formats.
We're delighted that partnering with Biotage will further emphasise the use of Reaxa products in pharma RandD applications", commented Reaxa's CEO Pete Jackson.
"Biotage is unique in that we offer solutions from synthetic route to Adme-tox through chemical development.
"We see how each stage of the discovery process can impact the next.
These microwave synthesis catalysts and prepacked scavenger resins save time and improve results," said Dave Patteson.
MicroEnCat prefilled vials and QuadraPure Flash cartridges are in development for 2006 launch.
Biotage is a global company active in life science research with strong technologies, a broad range of operations and a long-term view of the market.
The company offers solutions, knowledge and experience in the areas of genetic analysis and medicinal chemistry.
Customers include the worlds top 30 pharmaceutical companies, 20 largest biotech companies and leading academic institutes.
The company is headquartered in Uppsala and has offices in the USA, Japan, UK and several other European countries.
Biotage has approx 340 employees and had pro-forma sales of approx 500MSEK in 2004.
Reaxa's encapsulated catalyst technology was originally developed through a joint venture, begun in the mid-90s, between Professor Steve Ley's group at Cambridge University, UK, AstraZeneca, Syngenta and Avecia Pharmaceuticals.
The first commercial products were launched in late 2003.
Interests in Reaxa are held by private investors, staff, Umicore and India's Nicholas Piramal, which has acquired Avecia Pharmaceuticals' stake.
The commercial and R and D operations of Reaxa are based at Hexagon Tower, in Manchester UK.
EnCat technology won the UK Royal Society of Chemistry's 2005 Teamwork in Innovation award.
