ST. LOUIS, Oct. 16, 2014 /PRNewswire/ -- BioReliance(®) (www.bioreliance.com), Sigma-Aldrich Corporation's (NASDAQ: SIAL) biologics and early-development services business under SAFC(®) Commercial (www.sigmaaldrich.com/safc), has introduced select in vitro ADME (absorption, distribution, metabolism and excretion) and toxicology testing services for pharmaceutical, chemical and industrial consumer products to its service offering. The broad set of highly predictive assays use a novel suite of genetically modified cell lines created with CompoZr(®) zinc finger nuclease (ZFN), a Sigma-Aldrich proprietary technology.

"The new in vitro ADME and toxicology testing services complement the existing genetic toxicology testing portfolio at BioReliance, and have been designed to meet the growing demand for more predictive human cell-based assays," said Daniel Aparicio, Executive Director and General Manager of Toxicology at BioReliance. "The services are a valuable evolution from our synergies with Sigma-Aldrich products, and have been designed to decrease risk and total cost of ownership for customers in the discovery phase."

Designed in accordance with guidelines from agencies like the FDA, EMA and ITC, the assays help customers predict outcomes by determining levels of permeability, transport, metabolism and toxicity in a drug product. Each cell line is tested for functionality, which means that customers in discovery phases can more easily isolate any compounds that may affect product development before it can affect the safety or efficacy of a possible drug product.

"A shift in emphasis to testing in earlier phases of drug discovery and development, increasing efforts to reduce cost, stricter regulatory guidance, and a reduction in animal usage is driving the demand for more predictive in vitro ADME and Tox assays and services," said Paul Brooks, Ph.D, Head of Discovery Research Services at Sigma-Aldrich. "Our expanding portfolio of cell lines, available as products and now services is creating the most comprehensive and accessible platform for in vitro ADME and toxicology testing in the market."

For more information about BioReliance's in vitro ADME and toxicology testing services, please visit: http://www.bioreliance.com/invitroadmetox.aspx.

About BioReliance by SAFC: As part of the Sigma-Aldrich Corporation, operating under the SAFC Commercial business unit, BioReliance is a key component of the Company's commercial life science services portfolio. With locations worldwide, BioReliance offers more than 1,000 tests and complementary services related to biologics safety testing and specialized toxicology. For more information, visit www.bioreliance.com.

About SAFC:SAFC Commercial, the custom manufacturing and services business unit of Sigma-Aldrich Corporation, is recognized as a top 10 global specialty chemicals and biologics supplier. As a trusted manufacturer for the life science and high-technology industries, SAFC works closely with customers to resolve development challenges and accelerate the product pipeline using its global "Centers of Excellence" and dedicated manufacturing facilities. Its rich portfolio includes high-purity inorganic materials for high-technology applications, critical raw materials and extensive biologics safety testing services for biopharmaceutical manufacturing, and complex, high-potent APIs and key intermediates for pharmaceutical manufacturing. For more information, visit www.sigma-aldrich.com/safc.

About Sigma-Aldrich: Sigma-Aldrich, a leading life science and high-technology company focused on enhancing human health and safety, manufactures and distributes 230,000 chemicals, biochemicals and other essential products to more than 1.4 million customers globally in research and applied labs as well as in industrial and commercial markets. With three distinct business units--Research, Applied and SAFC Commercial--Sigma-Aldrich is committed to enabling science to improve the quality of life. The company operates in 37 countries, has more than 9,000 employees worldwide and had sales of $2.7 billion in 2013. For more information about Sigma-Aldrich, please visit its website atwww.sigma-aldrich.com.

©2014 Sigma-Aldrich Co. LLC. All rights reserved. Sigma-Aldrich, SAFC, BioReliance and CompoZr are trademarks of Sigma-Aldrich Co. LLC or its affiliates, registered in the U.S. and other countries.

SOURCE Sigma-Aldrich