SGS Life Science Services, the leading pharmaceutical clinical and bioanalytical contract solutions provider, today announced that its laboratory in Poitiers, France, has successfully completed a full analytical validation of the novel Meso Scale Discovery (MSD®) V-PLEX 10-plex Proinflammatory Panel I, for use with human plasma samples. The validation included measurement of accuracy, recovery, dilutional linearity, and stability, using a set of in-house, as well as the manufacturer's surrogate validation quality controls.

This new service offering, complementing SGS's existing biomarker portfolio, will enable the laboratory to generate more information by quantification of multiple biomarkers, and as 10 assays can be conducted in parallel, save on the volume of clinical samples required, while reducing turnaround time and cost for customers.

The Panel measures 10 cytokines that are important in inflammatory response and immune system regulation, as well as numerous other biological processes. These assays can detect biomarkers produced in a variety of tissues and body fluids, where over- or under-expression may indicate a shift in biological equilibrium. It also includes assays for many of the Th1/Th2 pathway biomarkers and measures biomarkers that are implicated in various disorders, including rheumatoid arthritis, Alzheimer's disease, asthma, atherosclerosis, allergies, systemic lupus erythematosus, obesity, cancer, depression, multiple sclerosis, diabetes, psoriasis, and Crohn's disease.

"We have deep understanding and expertise in the use of multiplex platforms as one of the routine bioanalytical procedures for clinical testing," commented Dr. Rabia Hidi, SGS Life Science Services Director of Biomarkers & Biopharmaceutical Testing. She added, "We can produce robust data and fully validate multiplexing methods to offer both quality of data and cost convenience, while using the minimum sample volumes. Where SGS differentiates itself in this space, is that our multiplexing methods can be fully validated and used in decision making studies."

With 19 laboratories offering contract analytical and bioanalytical services, SGS leverages its wholly-owned global network, present in North America, Europe, and Asia, to deliver harmonized solutions to large pharmaceutical and biotechnology firms. In addition to testing services for the bio/pharmaceutical market, SGS also provides Phase I to IV clinical trial management and services encompassing data management and statistics, PK/PD modeling and simulation, pharmacovigilance and regulatory consultancy.

For further information, please contact:

Ferdinand Dabu
Global Marketing Director
Life Science Services
SGS, 75 Passaic Avenue
Fairfield, NJ 07004, USA
t: +1-973-287-1219
www.sgs.com/lifescience

Richard Kerns
President
NEPR
t: +44 (0)161 728 5880

SGS is the world's leading inspection, verification, testing and certification company. SGS is recognized as the global benchmark for quality and integrity. With more than 80,000 employees, SGS operates a network of over 1,650 offices and laboratories around the world.

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