Invitrogen enters cell culture marketing agreement

Invitrogen has entered into a marketing agreement for the distribution of insulin to the cell culture sector, it has been revealed.

The firm is to market Bangalore-based Biocon’s insulin, which the manufacturer claims has been proven to be equivalent to other commercially-available versions of the substance.

Jeff Greenberg, Invitrogen vice-president of bioproduction, said: "Scientists have increasingly used insulin to enhance their cell culture, but can only access the pharmaceutical-grade insulin in bulk quantities from a few suppliers.

"Invitrogen and Biocon are now offering a competitive alternative which scientists, process engineers and manufacturers can confidently use."

The insulin is processed using porcine trypsin, which Biocon claims eliminates the risk of contamination by bovine spongiform encephalopathy.

Invitrogen’s range of insulin products includes derivations from guinea pigs and mice which the company states interact successfully with a human host to help identify pancreatic tumours and those which occur elsewhere in the body.