Zyomyx Inc has entered into a Strategic Alliance and Joint Development Agreement with Axon Instruments Inc to develop scanning instrumentation for data acquisition and analysis of Zyomyx protein biochips and related products.

Zyomyx is a world leader in the development of protein biochips, with applications in proteomics and bioanalysis requiring the study of proteins in fully functional states. Zyomyx' protein biochip platform will be the first to permit highly parallel measurements of protein expression, structure and activity, as well as allowing the study of protein-protein and protein-small molecule interactions in high density microchip architectures. To maximize the applications of its protein biochip technology platform, Zyomyx seeks to develop biochip readers capable of ultrahigh sensitivity and parallel processing scanning techniques.

Axon is a leader in the development and manufacture of high-performance instruments and software for research and drug discovery. Zyomyx and Axon will co-develop novel scanning instrumentation to operate with Zyomyx' various protein biochip architectures. Under the terms of the agreement, the companies will develop several generations of scanning products and evaluate additional fluorescence and non-fluorescence imaging platforms. Specific financial terms of the agreement were not disclosed.

"Over the years, Axon has developed and delivered cutting-edge research instruments to numerous pharmaceutical companies and academic institutions," said Zyomyx Chief Technology Officer, Peter Wagner. "Their expertise in this area will be instrumental in developing high-performance scanning instruments to complement Zyomyx' unique protein biochip technologies."

Added David Wellis, Axon's Vice President of Functional Genomics, "Zyomyx strongly impressed us with their advanced protein biochip technology, so we're pleased that they have chosen Axon to co-develop biochip scanning and imaging platforms. The collaboration with Zyomyx is an important part of Axon's strategic plan to expand our functional genomics product line into proteomics."