Agilent Technologies Introduces BioHPLC Columns for Characterization of Bio-Molecules

SANTA CLARA, Calif., Agilent Technologies Inc. (NYSE: A) today announced the availability of new ion exchange and size exclusion columns specifically designed for the analysis of bio-molecules including monoclonal antibodies, recombinant proteins, peptides, vaccine products and DNA/RNA. The columns provide robust, reproducible and high-resolution solutions for biopharmaceutical manufacturers to effectively monitor the safety, efficacy and stability of their products.

“With the addition of these new bio-columns, we can now offer our customers significant improvements in charge-based and size-based analytical separations of bio-molecules,” said Helen Stimson, vice president and general manager of Agilent’s Consumables and Supplies Division. “The new columns greatly expand our current bio-columns portfolio, which also include reverse phase columns for intact protein separations and peptide mapping.”

Each new column is individually tested with protein samples to ensure column-to-column and batch-to-batch reproducibility. The four new column families and their benefits include:

* Agilent Bio SEC-3 size exclusion columns, packed with a robust 3µm particle, which offers higher resolution and faster separation times, specifically for the analysis of monoclonal antibody aggregates;
* Agilent Bio SEC-5 size exclusion columns, packed with 5µm particles coated with a neutral, hydrophilic coating, making the particle extremely stable under harsh buffer conditions;
* Agilent Bio MAb columns, featuring a weak cation exchange (WCX) resin specifically designed for high-resolution separations of monoclonal antibody charge variants; and
* Agilent Bio IEX columns, designed for high-resolution, high-recovery and highly efficient separations of proteins, peptides, oligonucleotides and other bio-molecules.

Size exclusion chromatography is commonly used for the analysis of protein aggregation when proteins bind together to form a larger complex. Ion exchange chromatography is regularly used to monitor the reproducibility of protein manufacturing. Charge variants are carefully monitored, specifically glycosylation and deamidation, to ensure safety and efficacy. Additional information about the new Agilent BioHPLC columns is available at www.agilent.com/chem/biohplc.

About Agilent Technologies

Agilent Technologies Inc. (NYSE: A) is the world’s premier measurement company and a technology leader in communications, electronics, life sciences and chemical analysis. The company’s 16,000 employees serve customers in more than 110 countries. Agilent had net revenues of $4.5 billion in fiscal 2009. Information about Agilent is available on the Web at www.agilent.com.