PerkinElmer launches new assay kits for drug screening

PerkinElmer has announced the launch of a new selection of assays for use in the development and analysis of new drug candidates.

The epigenetics-based kits utilise Lance Ultra and AlphaLISA detection technology to enable screening for modulators of DNA activity in pharmaceutical compounds.

They allow for the measurement of epigenetic targets, such as histone methyltransferases and histone acetyltransferases, and are currently the only no-wash, non-radiometric antibody-based screening products available to both medium and high-throughput screening laboratories.

Dr Martina Bielefeld-Sevigny, vice-president and general manager for drug discovery and research reagent solutions at PerkinElmer's biodiscovery division, said the assay kits will have applications in research into oncology and neurodegenerative disease.

She added: "With these new tools, researchers may detect environmental and translation changes related to DNA modification faster and without using radioactive labelling, for more efficient results."

Earlier this month, PerkinElmer published its financial results for the third quarter of 2010, noting an 11 percent year-over-year growth in revenue from continuing operations.