Bruker and 3M Sign Exclusive Patent License Agreement

Bruker Corporation (Bremen, Germany) has signed an exclusive patent license agreement with 3M Company (Ohio, USA), which allows Bruker to use 3M- patented innovations relating to matrix-assisted laser desorption ionization (MALDI) mass spectrometry imaging.

The licensed 3M patents are directed to a technique for performing mass spectrometry analysis on proteins in tissue that has been preserved in paraffin. The technology enables researchers to more easily study formalin-fixed, paraffin-embedded tissue for life-science research and drug development.

MALDI imaging has been increasingly used to analyse clinically relevant tissues such as tumour biopsies. The molecular phenotypes observed by MALDI imaging have been shown to correlate with parameters such as disease status or patient outcome, and have been successfully applied to the classification of tissue samples.

Dr Sören-Oliver Deininger, market manager for MALDI imaging at Bruker, said: “The interest in the analysis of FFPE tissue by MALDI imaging is increasing strongly. Bruker has developed innovative technology to make MALDI imaging viable in histopathology by the integration of virtual microscopy and the possibility to classify tissue based on the molecular phenotypes (class-imaging). Our license agreement with 3M shows our ongoing commitment to the MALDI imaging field, and gives our customers the necessary freedom to conduct their research and advance the field.”

“We are pleased to license these patents to Bruker, a leader in the field of MALDI imaging, and see this technology applied in the market,” said Dr Todd Fruchterman, senior VP of Research & Development and CMO for 3M Health Care. “We hope that this license agreement will accelerate the research in MALDI imaging of FFPE tissue, and enable it to ultimately become a valuable diagnostic tool.”

For more information please visit:

www.bruker.com