SAFC Pharma Installs the Industry's First Commercial Dual Wavelength X-Ray Diffractometer

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ST. LOUIS and MADRID, Oct 13, 2009 /PRNewswire-FirstCall via COMTEX/ -- SIAL | Quote | Chart | News | PowerRating -- CPhI -- SAFC Pharma(R), a business segment of SAFC(R), a member of the Sigma-Aldrich(R) Group (Nasdaq: SIAL), today announced that its Pharmorphix(R) Solid State Research Laboratories in Cambridge, UK, have installed a new single crystal X-ray diffraction system. The Oxford Diffraction SuperNova(TM) system, which can determine the crystal structures from the most challenging crystal samples, is the first industrial installation of this state-of-the-art instrumentation anywhere in the world.

Equipped with a powerful high flux dual wavelength microsource X-ray generator, the SuperNova instrument is capable of performing single crystal X-ray analyses on small microcrystalline fragments with dimensions of down to 30 to 50 microns. The dual wavelength capability will allow the rigorous determination of absolute stereochemistry of chemical entities which contain first row elements only.

Solid-form characterization and research is an essential part of the drug development process. A fundamental understanding of the physical properties of active pharmaceutical ingredients (APIs) allows for the selection of the optimal solid-form to ensure patient benefit such as efficacy and safety, and protect intellectual property.

Professor Chris Frampton, Chief Scientific Officer for SAFC Pharma's Pharmorphix Solid State Research Technology, commented: "The installation of the Oxford Diffraction SuperNova instrument underlines our commitment to providing the highest quality data and service to our clients in the area of single crystal X-ray diffraction. The technique of single crystal X-ray diffraction is used extensively throughout all our projects and provides a fundamental understanding of solid state processes."

About SAFC Pharma's Pharmorphix Solid State Research Technology: (www.safcpharma.com/pharmorphix) is well-recognized for its solid form research studies and is used by pharmaceutical customers around the globe to enhance their development programs. Often used in the early to mid stages of drug development, Pharmorphix's solid-state services complement SAFC Pharma's expertise in the manufacture and supply of Active Pharmaceutical Ingredients (APIs) and intermediates, providing customers with collaborative support through every stage of the clinical development process and enabling greater speed to market.

About SAFC: SAFC(R) is the custom manufacturing and services group within Sigma-Aldrich that focuses on high-purity inorganics for high technology applications, cell culture products and services for biopharmaceutical manufacturing, biochemical production and the manufacturing of complex, multi-step organic synthesis of APIs and key intermediates. SAFC has manufacturing facilities around the world dedicated to providing manufacturing services for companies requiring a reliable partner to produce their custom manufactured materials. SAFC has four focus areas - SAFC Pharma(R), SAFC Supply SolutionsC, SAFC Biosciences(R), and SAFC Hitech(R) - and had annual sales of over $600 million in 2008. SAFC is one of the world's 10 largest fine chemical businesses. For more information about SAFC, visit www.safcglobal.com.

About SAFC Pharma(R): SAFC Pharma is a complete pipeline partner for the development and cGMP custom manufacturing of complex small-molecule APIs and biologic drug products. It combines world-class project management and chemistry support for all stages of the drug discovery and development process from research and discovery, through pre-clinical and clinical development to commercialization, with a focus on reducing the drug development time-line. SAFC has the widest range of raw materials, highly qualified and experienced staff, state-of-the-art facilities and an integrated portfolio of services, including full analytical and regulatory support and is a leader in emerging technologies, including high-potency APIs, solid-state chemistry, viral products and chemical-biologic API conjugates. For more information visit www.safcpharma.com.

About Sigma-Aldrich: Sigma-Aldrich is a leading Life Science and High Technology company. Its biochemical and organic chemical products and kits are used in scientific research, including genomic and proteomic research, biotechnology, pharmaceutical development and as key components in pharmaceutical, diagnostic and other high technology manufacturing. The Company has customers in life science companies, university and government institutions, hospitals, and in industry. Over one million scientists and technologists use its products. Sigma-Aldrich operates in 38 countries and has 7,800 employees providing excellent service worldwide. Sigma-Aldrich is committed to Accelerating Customer Success through Innovation and Leadership in Life Science, High Technology and Service. For more information about Sigma-Aldrich, please visit its award-winning Web site at http://www.sigma-aldrich.com.

Sigma-Aldrich(R), SAFC(R), SAFC Pharma, SAFC Biosciences, SAFC Supply Solutions, SAFC Hitech and Pharmorphix(R) are registered trademarks of Sigma-Aldrich Biotechnology L.P. and Sigma-Aldrich Co.

SuperNova is a trademark of Oxford Diffraction Ltd.

SOURCE Sigma-Aldrich

http://www.sigma-aldrich.com

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