Invitrogen Launches Benchtop Device That Simplifies Primary and Stem Cell Research

CARLSBAD, Calif.--(BUSINESS WIRE)--Invitrogen, a division of Life Technologies (NASDAQ:LIFE), today announced the launch of the Neon Transfection Device, a bench-top tool that enables researchers to better understand the functions of cells, genes and proteins. This device simplifies the delivery of DNA, RNA, and proteins into a wide range of mammalian cell types, especially difficult to transfect cells, such as many types of primary and stem cells.

“The Neon Transfection Device expands our extensive portfolio of transfection solutions by enabling scientists to successfully apply this technique to a much greater number of biologically relevant cell types.”

Transfection is a laboratory technique that enables scientists to deliver foreign molecules into cells that normally do not allow entry of these agents. By performing this technique, researchers are able to manipulate gene activity and cellular protein levels. For example, by transfecting cells with siRNA, they can selectively decrease levels of RNA expression, allowing them to infer the function of genes and cells. The Neon Transfection Device is especially suitable for gene and siRNA delivery into stem cells, providing researchers with a powerful tool for accelerating research related to advances in regenerative medicine. These kinds of studies are expected to increase due to recent federal legislation providing additional funding for stem cell research.

“The key to understanding how different cell types function is having the ability to manipulate the genetic material that influences their behavior,” said Charles Piazza, Vice President of Invitrogen Molecular Biology Reagents at Life Technologies. “The Neon Transfection Device expands our extensive portfolio of transfection solutions by enabling scientists to successfully apply this technique to a much greater number of biologically relevant cell types.”

The Neon Transfection Device is the first bench-top tool introduced by Invitrogen for transfection of cells, broadening its industry-leading portfolio of delivery technologies that includes the Lipofectamine™ brand of reagents. The device features a unique transfection chamber that minimizes cell death, as well as programmable software, and minimal reagent requirements that combine to provide researchers the flexibility to work with many different cell types.

Invitrogen is a leading provider of platform independent, essential life science technologies for disease and drug research, bioproduction and diagnostics. It is the premier provider of products and services for advancing the field of regenerative medicine, with its efforts focused on supplying researchers with the most comprehensive suite of products for advancing cell therapy efforts, including the industry’s premier portfolio of tools and reagents for stem cell research. Another significant focus is the creation of unique primary and stem cell models for better and more efficient drug screening. Invitrogen, together with Applied Biosystems ― a global leader in providing innovative instrument systems to accelerate academic and clinical research, drug discovery and development, pathogen detection and forensic DNA analysis ― is part of Life Technologies Corporation, which markets the life science industry's most comprehensive portfolio of solutions for molecular and cell biology. Invitrogen and Applied Biosystems products are used in nearly every major laboratory in the world.

For more information, please visit: www.invitrogen.com and www.appliedbiosystems.com.

About Life Technologies

Life Technologies Corporation (NASDAQ: LIFE) is a global biotechnology tools company dedicated to improving the human condition. Our systems, consumables and services enable researchers to accelerate scientific exploration, driving to discoveries and developments that make life even better. Life Technologies customers do their work across the biological spectrum, working to advance personalized medicine, regenerative science, molecular diagnostics, agricultural and environmental research, and 21st century forensics. Life Technologies had sales of more than $3 billion in 2008, employs approximately 9,500 people, has a presence in more than 100 countries, and possesses a rapidly growing intellectual property estate of approximately 3,600 patents and exclusive licenses. Life Technologies was created by the combination of Invitrogen Corporation and Applied Biosystems Inc. For more information on how we are making a difference please visit our website: www.lifetechnologies.com.

Safe Harbor Statement

This press release includes forward-looking statements about our anticipated results that involve risks and uncertainties. Some of the information contained in this press release, including, but not limited to, statements as to industry trends and Life Technologies’ plans, objectives, expectations and strategy for its business, contains forward-looking statements that are subject to risks and uncertainties that could cause actual results or events to differ materially from those expressed or implied by such forward-looking statements. Any statements that are not statements of historical fact are forward-looking statements. When used, the words “believe,” “plan,” “intend,” “anticipate,” “target,” “estimate,” “expect” and the like, and/or future tense or conditional constructions (“will,” “may,” “could,” “should,” etc.), or similar expressions, identify certain of these forward-looking statements. Important factors which could cause actual results to differ materially from those in the forward-looking statements are detailed in filings made by Life Technologies with the Securities and Exchange Commission. Life Technologies undertakes no obligation to update or revise any such forward-looking statements to reflect subsequent events or circumstances.

Copyright 2009. Life Technologies Corporation. All rights reserved. Invitrogen is a trademark of Life Technologies in the US and/or certain other countries. Lipofectamine and Neon are trademarks of Invitrogen and Life Technologies Corporation.

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