A Medical Device Daily

Isis Pharmaceuticals (Carlsbad, California) reported that it has received its first commercial order for Ibis T5000 Biosensor Systems. A U.S. government agency, unnamed, has ordered two Ibis T5000 systems for human forensics applications.

The purchase agreement, the company said, “marks an important milestone for Isis’ Ibis Biosciences division, which has worked closely with government collaborators to expand the Ibis T5000 capabilities to include forensics. Isis plans to complete installation of the first system before the end of the year, and to install the second system early in 2007. Further details about the agreement were not disclosed.

The Ibis T5000 Biosensor Systems will be used by this government customer for high-throughput forensic analysis of human mitochondrial DNA (mtDNA) to genotype and identify individuals based on unique patterns of genetic variation.

MtDNA analysis is often used in cases involving the identification of human remains or missing persons where nuclear DNA is either too degraded or too scarce to employ standard analytical methods. Compared to traditional sequencing methods for mtDNA analysis, the Ibis T5000 is automated and high-throughput, allowing numerous samples to be analyzed rapidly and accurately, the company said.

In related news, Ibis said it was recently awarded a research contract to support the continued development of advanced capabilities in the field of mtDNA forensics using the Ibis T5000 Biosensor System.

Isis also reported that it completed the first phase of its Challenge Grant from the National Institute of Allergy and Infectious Disease , a part of the National Institutes of Health , and has been granted funding for the second and third phases of the grant which includes installing an Ibis T5000 Biosensor System at Johns Hopkins University Medical Center (Baltimore).

The purpose of the grant is to develop and validate a range of respiratory and blood-borne infectious agents, including bacteria and viruses on the NIAID priority list. The milestones for the first phase involved development of assays for identification, strain typing, virulence and drug resistance of important human pathogens. In addition to deployment of an Ibis T5000, the second and third phases of the grant — about $2.5 million — include funding for the purchase of assay kits to analyze human samples in validation studies.

Michael Treble, president of Ibis and vice president of Isis, said, “Together, the purchase order, research commitment, second and third phases of the challenge grant and large-scale sample screening agreement represent revenue of up to $5.5 million. We hope to continue to achieve additional commercial milestones as we complete 2006 and enter 2007. We believe the Ibis T5000 Biosensor System has the potential to revolutionize human forensics and identification of infectious organisms.”

In other contract news:

B. Braun Medical (Bethlehem, Pennsylvania) reported that it has been awarded a contract for the majority of the national requirements for ambulatory infusion pumps from Coram (Denver), a provider of home infusion services. The value of the contract was not reported.

“The addition of the Curlin 4000 CMS Ambulatory Infusion pump to our list of products and services provides Coram patients with the highest quality of treatment,” said John Arlotta, CEO and chairman of Coram. “Carrying one of the industry’s most reliable and easy-to-use infusion pump systems demonstrates our dedication to patient safety, and enables us to provide our customers with quality care and service.”

The Curlin 4000 CMS is manufactured by Curlin Medical (Huntington Beach, California), a subsidiary of Moog (East Aurora, New York).

Coram employs more than 1,000 staff nurses and pharmacists in more than 70 full-service branch pharmacies across the country.