Equipment will provide the core components of Wyeth's new and consolidated uHTS facility, currently under construction, at its Collegeville Pennsylvania research site
The Automation Partnership (TAP) announces a long term agreement to supply Wyeth with a complete suite of ultra high-throughput screening (uHTS), compound management and cell culture automation platforms.
This equipment will provide the core components of Wyeth's new and consolidated uHTS facility, currently under construction, at its Collegeville Pennsylvania research site. This initiative will support Wyeth's objective of commencing 60 early exploratory projects each year.
This represents the first step in the discovery pipeline supporting the company's continuing goal to produce 12 development track candidates each year.
An important factor for success of the project is the ability to work with a partner who takes accountability for the project.
TAP says it is able to provide a significant share of the major hardware, software and service elements needed.
At the level of operational intensity that planned, it is critical that all elements work together "synergistically", says TAP.
TAP's automation has been designed with this in mind.
For example, the horizontal integration of the equipment allows cassettes of microplates containing samples and cells to be seamlessly moved between cell culture, compound management and screening platforms under the co-ordination of informatics and control software.
This will enable screening teams to achieve objectives.
Andrew Morffew, chief executive officer of TAP, comments: "Wyeth's throughput objectives have moved them to a level of operation where meticulous design and tolerancing of the facility have been necessary before the equipment could be specified.
"To do this, Wyeth and TAP have collaborated on the design of the new facility using sophisticated modelling approaches normally used in hi-tech factory design.
"We are looking forward to working together in delivering and commissioning this state-of-the-art facility".
