BD (Becton, Dickinson and Company), a global leader in medical technology, has entered into a framework collaboration agreement with Biosero, a prominent developer of laboratory automation solutions, to facilitate the seamless integration of robotic arms with BD flow cytometry instruments. This strategic alliance aims to accelerate advancements in drug discovery and development.
As part of the collaboration, both companies will work together to enhance BD flow cytometer instrument software, ensuring compatibility with Biosero’s Green Button Go® software. This initiative will enable biopharmaceutical and contract research organizations to customize their research processes with greater efficiency, simplifying robotic arm integration.
In conventional laboratory settings, several steps in the flow cytometry workflow for drug discovery and development are performed manually. Automation through robotic integration can significantly streamline these processes. For instance, sample loading and analysis on a flow cytometer typically involve manually handling one multiwell plate at a time, which can be time-intensive. With robotic arm integration, laboratories can automate the handling of multiple multiwell plates, potentially processing tens or even hundreds without manual intervention.
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“Automation is increasingly paramount for biopharma companies and contract research organizations whose high-throughput drug screening and cell therapy manufacturing efforts rely on the scalability, reproducibility, quality and speed that robotic integration can provide,” said Steve Conly, worldwide president of BD Biosciences. “This collaboration unlocks a new chapter of automation for our current and future biopharma partners. By combining forces with Biosero, a trusted leader in lab automation, we will empower customers to bring their potentially life-changing therapies to market even faster.”
Flow cytometry plays a crucial role at various stages of drug discovery and development. It enables researchers to analyze the impact of potential drug candidates on single cells within vast populations during drug screening. Additionally, in cell therapy manufacturing, flow cytometry is used to assess and characterize cells at different production stages, ensuring the safety and efficacy of the final cell therapy product.
“Biosero’s portfolio of laboratory automation software works with flow cytometers, robotic arms, as well as mobile robots and other equipment, within one communicative ecosystem, to automate scientific protocols and boost lab productivity while reducing human error,” said Ryan Bernhardt, CEO of Biosero. “This collaboration advances our vision of making laboratory automation easy to use, scalable and adaptable for the vital work of drug discovery and development.”
