BASi and JOANNEUM RESEARCH Enter Into Collaboration to Commercialize Open Flow Microperfusion Technology

WEST LAFAYETTE, Ind., September 6, 2017 (Newswire.com) - Bioanalytical Systems, Inc. (NASDAQ:BASI) ("BASi" or the "Company"), a recognized global leader in the development of instrumentation for microdialysis and in vivo sampling in animal models, today announced that it has entered into a collaborative agreement with JOANNEUM RESEARCH to commercialize the Open Flow Microperfusion (OFM) technology for preclinical applications. Under the terms of the agreement, BASi will be granted exclusivity to promote and distribute OFM products meant for preclinical research applications in the North and South American markets.

Open Flow Microperfusion (OFM) is a novel in vivo technology for continuous sampling of the interstitial fluid from brain and peripheral tissues. Application of the OFM technology is focused on cerebral tissue (cOFM) and dermal, as well as subcutaneous adipose tissue (dOFM, aOFM). OFM has the ability to sample a wide range of substances from small ions, small molecules, and lipophilic drugs to large proteins, antibodies, vesicles, and even cells.

We have developed and validated Open Flow Microperfusion (OFM) in the last 20 years and created a tool that gives insight in local, tissue-specific Pharmacokinetic and Pharmacodynamics. We are more than happy that we found BASi as an experienced partner for the commercialization of our product in order to make our remarkable tool accessible for a wide range of customers.

Dr. Frank Sinner, Director of the Institute HEALTH at JOANNEUM RESEARCH

The distinct advantage of OFM lies in the use of patented, membrane-free probes. Membrane-based sampling technologies like microdialysis are restricted by a nominal size cut-off value and encounter problems when sampling high molecular weight or highly lipophilic substances in the interstitial fluid. Minimally-invasive OFM probes overcome these problems by featuring an exchange area with no diffusion barrier instead of a membrane. OFM probes have either a linear (dOFM, aOFM) or a concentric design (cOFM). In combination with a specialized peristaltic OFM pump, OFM achieves a stable recovery of interstitial fluid samples. This unfiltered sampling results in a complete representation of the interstitial fluid for relative and absolute quantification in the target tissue. 

Importantly, cerebral OFM allows sampling with an intact blood–brain barrier as it, unlike existing cerebral microdialysis tools, features a membrane-free probe and uses a healing probe-dummy, allowing tissue regeneration without the formation of scar tissue at the implant site. Therefore, the possibility of long-term implantation into the brain makes cOFM an outstanding tool in the development of brain relevant pharmaceuticals.

"We couldn't be more pleased to be partnering with JOANNEUM RESEARCH in bringing the innovative OFM technology to the scientific community," said Dr. Srini Jayaraman, Product Manager and Principal Investigator at BASi. "OFM will be a potential tool for researchers interested in understanding tissue-specific Pharmacokinetics and Pharmacodynamics (PK-PD). Drug discovery and academic scientists in the fields of Neuroscience/Neuropharmacology, Dermal, Oncology, Biomarkers, and PK-PD research will benefit by getting access to this cutting-edge in vivo sampling platform. OFM has distinct advantages over microdialysis and ultrafiltration, like sampling with intact blood-brain barrier integrity and molecular size inclusivity, providing the competitive edge in characterizing neurotransmitters, peptide and protein biomarkers, antibodies, transporters, enzymes, bound and unbound drugs, and even vesicles and cells from the extracellular space. OFM products are compatible with BASi's in vivo sampling systems and perfectly complement BASi's product portfolio. We're very much looking forward to launching this collaboration with JOANNEUM RESEARCH," concluded Dr. Jayaraman.

Dr. Peter T. Kissinger, BASi Founder and Scientific Advisor, said, "When BASi started working on microdialysis instrumentation and services in the 1970s, and then commercialized the platform for brain and peripheral applications in the 1980s, the neuropharmacology focus was all on small molecule drugs and biogenic amine transmitters. Today, the measurement tools for proteins have advanced dramatically and many of our clients are interested in dynamic measurements in the fully functioning brain. We can't efficiently achieve this with microdialysis, thus flow probes unimpeded by a membrane are very attractive. Our collaborators in Austria have been developing this concept in an elegant way. We are excited to now introduce OFM to the research community."

"We have developed and validated Open Flow Microperfusion (OFM) in the last 20 years and created a tool that gives insight in local, tissue-specific Pharmacokinetic and Pharmacodynamics," said Dr. Frank Sinner, Director of the Institute HEALTH at JOANNEUM RESEARCH. "We are more than happy that we found BASi as an experienced partner for the commercialization of our product in order to make our remarkable tool accessible for a wide range of customers."

Dr. Thomas Birngruber, Leader of the OFM Research and Development Team at JOANNEUM RESEARCH said, "Currently, the main application fields for OFM are monitoring of transport across biological barriers such as the blood-brain barrier and the skin, as well as bioequivalence studies. OFM is also successfully used in drug and formulation development, biomarker research, and nanotechnology, as well as basic research projects such as the investigation of local immune cell populations and microvesicle release. We are happy to provide support with the application of OFM technology and design of optimized study setups."

About JOANNEUM RESEARCH

JOANNEUM RESEARCH Forschungsgesellschaft mbH is a leading international research organization that develops solutions and technologies for businesses and industry covering a wide range of sectors. As an INNOVATION COMPANY focused on applied research and technology development, it plays a key role in facilitating the transfer of technology and knowledge in Austria.

HEALTH: The Institute for Biomedicine and Health Sciences acts as a link between basic medical research and industrial application in close cooperation with the Medical University of Graz. HEALTH, as the inventor of OFM, provides high-quality PK/PD services in preclinical and clinical settings ranging from experiments in explanted human tissue, different animal models, up to clinical studies in healthy subjects and patient cohorts with different conditions. These services are supplemented by GLP compliant bioanalytics, data management and statistics. Visit www.openflowmicroperfusion.com for more information about OFM.

About Bioanalytical Systems, Inc.

BASi is a pharmaceutical development company providing Preclinical, Toxicological and Bioanalytical contract research services and monitoring instruments to the world's leading drug development companies and medical research organizations. The Company focuses on developing innovative services and products that increase efficiency and reduce the cost of taking a new drug to market. Visit www.BASinc.com for more information about BASi.

This release may contain forward-looking statements that are subject to risks and uncertainties including, but not limited to, risks and uncertainties related to changes in the market and demand for our products and services, the development, marketing and sales of products and services, changes in technology, industry standards and regulatory standards, and various market and operating risks detailed in the company's filings with the Securities and Exchange Commission.

Company Contact:
Jill Blumhoff
Chief Financial Officer &
Vice President of Finance
Phone: 765.497.8381
[email protected]​

Source: Bioanalytical Systems, Inc.