Avacta Group Regulatory News (AVCT)

4 August 2014

Avacta Group plc

("Avacta" or the "Group")

New OPTIM Software and Hardware

Avacta Group plc (AIM: AVCT), the global provider of proprietary diagnostic tools, consumables and reagents for human and animal healthcare, announces that Avacta Analytical has completed the development of two new OPTIM variants. Alongside this, the Group has released upgraded OPTIM software, intended to widen the range of potential customers. 

OPTIM, Avacta Analytical's protein characterisation instrument, was launched during 2010 as OPTIM 1000 and was substantially redeveloped into the OPTIM2 system during 2013. Designed to reduce the time and cost of therapeutic protein development, the OPTIM instruments can provide multiple protein stability-indications at high speed using ultra-low sample volumes.

Avacta has completed the development of upgraded software for the OPTIM platform, expanding the capabilities available to end users. Two new variants to the core OPTIM platform, OPTIM 375 and OPTIM 445, which incorporate incremental measurement capabilities are now available. The Directors consider that these two new variants and the related upgraded software widen the appeal of OPTIM in its core drug development market by focusing on applications to characterise the viscosity of samples and the stability of membrane protein targets.

Alastair Smith, Avacta Group Chief Executive of Avacta said: "Now that OPTIM is becoming established as a valuable tool for protein stability characterisation, we are working hard to expand the range of applications and measurement types that the system can support in order to broaden the instrument's market appeal and drive consumable usage. The latest developments are in response to the market demand, which is growing worldwide, that we have identified for viscosity determination on small samples and for stability characterisation of membrane protein targets which are a challenging but important class of protein samples."

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About Avacta Group plc - www.avacta.com

Avacta Group plc is a global provider of innovative technologies, consumables and reagents for the life science markets, from drug discovery to diagnostics. Avacta operates through three divisions: