CRS Proteomics Platform Eliminates 2D Gel Bottlenecks.

Business Editors & Health/Medical Writers

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BURLINGTON, Ontario--(BW HealthWire)--Sept. 10, 2001

CRS Robotics Corporation (TSE:ROB.) announced today the successful completion of its customer acceptance regimen for an advanced proteomics research system they have developed in collaboration with the Samuel Lunenfeld Research Institute at Mount Sinai Hospital.

This system will be used for high throughput protein expression and cell-based analysis of protein-protein interactions using magnetic bead technology. Included with the integrated platform is a cell culture operation optimized for protein expression, a magnetic bead based protein purification system, and a multifunctional optical detection system. The system utilizes CRS' industry leading POLARA(TM) software architecture to coordinate and control the various subsystems. The multitasking architecture of POLARA will allow the researchers to run multiple processes simultaneously, thus accelerating the pace of their proteomics research efforts. This project has been under development for the last six months and is being readied for installation at the Lunenfeld Research Institute.

Established in 1985, the Lunenfeld Research Institute of Mount Sinai Hospital is a University of Toronto affiliated research centre that is widely recognized as one of Canada's premier research facilities committed to excellence in biomedical research and in the training of young investigators. Programs concentrate on basic research with a primary focus on molecular biology and the genetic basis of disease and embryological development. Strong interactions with industry and the clinical programs of Mount Sinai Hospital ensure the application of scientific knowledge to the promotion of human health.

Front Line Strategic Management Consulting, Inc. of Foster City California, in a recently published proteomics market and technology assessment, stated that the proteomics market will experience a compound growth rate over the period 2000 to 2005 of 38%. The report further stated "the proteomics market is expected to grow rapidly throughout the next five years, reaching a value of nearly $3 billion by 2005". CRS has specifically targeted the proteomics market and has already installed several integrated systems at leading research organizations.

CRS is a pioneer in the use of magnetic bead-based separation technologies. By applying this technology to protein purification, researchers can avoid cumbersome gel-based separation techniques which are one of the critical bottlenecks in high throughput proteomics research. CRS estimates that its technology will increase the productivity over traditional methods by a factor of 10 or more. CRS' automation also plays a critical role during the cell culture, protein expression and purification phase by eliminating human intervention. This minimizes the risk of contamination that can easily destroy a vital experiment and improves throughput and reproducibility.

Dr. Al Outhouse Ph.D., Senior Application Scientist at CRS noted that CRS is poised to be a leading player in the industry through its development of modular proteomics systems that can be fully integrated through the application of its enabling mover, software and bead technologies. "Our cell culture systems, transfection and protein extraction modules as well as our unique plate mover technologies are bringing together a lot of the individual pieces that will make a highly integrated system achievable", Dr. Outhouse said.

CRS has been acknowledged as one of the few companies on the forefront of laboratory automation technology. Core competencies of the company include integrated lab automation solutions using advanced software in biotechnology and pharmaceutical research applications marketed worldwide. In addition, CRS manufactures and supplies robotic systems for advanced manufacturing niche markets. CRS is headquartered in Burlington, Ontario and has subsidiaries in the United States and Europe. Further information can be found on the company's web site at www.crsrobotics.com.

Some of the matters discussed in this news release involve risks and uncertainties, which include, but are not limited to, risks and uncertainties regarding the Company's ability to generate high growth sales rates and uncertainties related to economic conditions, markets, products, competition, intellectual property, services and prices, key employees and future capital needs that the company depends on. Additional information on these and other potential factors that could affect the Company's financial results are detailed in documents filed from time to time with the Ontario Securities Commission. The Company undertakes no responsibility to update forward-looking statements if circumstances or management's projections, beliefs or opinions change.