Ongar, Essex, UK (28th September 2009) - Selcia Ltd, a worldwide industry leading C-14 custom radiolabelling provider and drug discovery company this week launched their new Fragment Screening Platform and unveiled their new brand as part of ambitious international expansion plans. Selcia have acquired the Intellectual Property and expertise of the CE Screen, pioneered by the former Cetek Corporation and adapted the technology for fragment screening. The company believe that the CE Screen is one of the most powerful technologies available today for fragment-based drug discovery.

The rapid growth and transformation of Selcia into a comprehensive life science service provider are underlined by a major re-brand which includes the launch of a new website (www.selcia.com) to better articulate their enhanced offering.

Dr Hans Fliri, Managing Director of Selcia, commented: “The re-brand and launch of our Discovery division are the latest initiatives in our efforts to take our client partnership proposition and service quality to the next level. We think our bold new brand and website better reflect our values, describing what we do and what we stand for as a growing business, helping to encapsulate our passion for client delivery and world class standards in radiolabelling and drug discovery”.

The re-brand is central to communicating the new strategic priorities and direction of the business, which sees Selcia continuing to consolidate and develop its position as one of the leading worldwide providers of custom synthesis C-14 radiosynthesis services, partnering customers in their regulatory, development and research programmes. Selcia’s newly launched Discovery operating division has been based around a proven technology, which was adapted by Selcia to detect the weak binding interactions between fragments and the therapeutic target. Selcia’s patented fragment screening technology has significant advantages over other available methods to detect weak interactions.

Dr Clive Cornell, Divisional Head of Discovery, said: “We are extremely excited to be now able to offer our newly developed novel fragment screening technology, to enhance our clients discovery programs. Our unique and patented methodology has been proven to provide one of, if not the best screening techniques available today, providing unprecedented reliable and accurate data. Our patented technology requires only very small quantities of target protein and test compounds, is highly reproducible, and gives a very low frequency of false positives”.

The re-brand and launch of the Discovery division are the latest in a series of significant investments by Selcia since establishing the company following a spin-out from Aventis in 2001.

Dr Hans Fliri commented: “We have nearly trebled our radiochemistry capacity in the last 5 years, have recently finished expansion into 2,500sqm state-of-the-art facilities at our headquarters in Essex outside London, and seen our analytical laboratory achieve GLP accreditation by the MHRA. Over the next 3 years we are aiming to grow our radiochemistry business by a third in the Ongar facility and to establish Selcia Discovery as a recognised global player in fragment-based drug discovery”.

New website: www.selcia.com

About Selcia
Founded in 2001, Selcia is a leading worldwide provider of contract research services in chemistry, isotopes and analytics to international life sciences and chemicals companies. The company has grown to 60 employees and operates out of a 2,500sqm of state-of-the-art laboratory space on a dedicated research facility on the Fyfield Business and Research Park, Ongar, Essex, UK and in Franklin, Massachusetts, USA.

The operating divisions of Selcia are ‘Selcia Discovery’, who have a track record of delivering robust clinical candidates, and ‘Selcia Radiolabelling’, a recognised world leader in C-14 custom synthesis.

Selcia Radiolabelling is internationally renowned as a partner of choice for carbon-14 radiosynthesis services. Selcia Radiolabelling offers a level of personal service and dedication equivalent to an internal isotope laboratory, taking care of clients radiolabelling requirements or supporting internal groups in times of peak demand.

Selcia Discovery has significant research partnerships with leading pharmaceutical and biotechnology companies. The division specialises in fragment based drug discovery and providing medicinal chemistry to support academic institutions and small biotech companies. At the same time, they continue to seek partnerships with major companies for drug discovery projects in all therapeutic areas.

Both divisions are supported by a state-of-the-art GLP MHRA accredited laboratory where their analysts, experienced in structural biology, structural elucidation, metabolite identification and impurity profiling operate with exceptional infrastructure including three high-field NMR spectrometers to ensure the highest quality for client services.

Many of Selcia’s employees have numerous years of industrial experience. They strive to apply the systems, respect for the environment and ethical experience gained working in large multinational pharmaceutical and life science companies.

Key Contact

Selcia contact
Dave Roberts
Business Development Director
Selcia Limited
T: +44 (0) 1277367003
E: dave.roberts@selcia.com