Successful trade mission to Japan and Korea yields new business opportunities for Sistemic

26 March 2012: Sistemic, UK:  Sistemic Ltd, Glasgow, concluded a successful trade mission to Japan and Korea in February 2012. Verna McErlane, Director of Commercial Operations, presented the company’s miRNA-based approach to a receptive group of businesses and research institutions in Tokyo, Osaka, Kyoto, Seoul and Jeonju. The Japan portion of the trip was planned by the Scottish and Japanese offices of Scottish Development International (SDI).

 During the visit, Sistemic met with both existing and potential clients, and participated in a number of seminars and partnering sessions. Verna McErlane, Director of Commercial Operations, Sistemic, explained: “As the trade mission progressed, it became clear that the partnership model for drug development features highly in the plans of the pharma industry there. It was exciting to have the chance to present how the world’s second largest pharma market will benefit from Sistemic’s unique miRNA profiling products and services.”

Sistemic is pursuing an active global expansion plan for the business. Jim Reid, Sistemic’s CEO commented: “Pharma companies are looking to access technologies on a global basis, so it’s important Sistemic is recognised at this level. We are proud to have customers all over the US and Europe, as well as in Australia and Asia Pacific and we look forward to working closely with a number of new partners in Japan and Korea as a result of the trade mission.”

 During the visit, Sistemic presented its SistemQC product for use in cell characterisation and QC. This is of particular interest to anyone working on cell therapies, regenerative medicine and stem cells. SistemQC is a miRNA-based fingerprint approach that provides a powerful and informative way to characterise and monitor cells lines, including stem cells, for identity, purity, safety and differentiation staging. Sistemic also presented details of SistemRNA and how it is used in drug discovery and development. SistemRNA applies a compound-centric approach identifying drug effects by associative changes in miRNA express profiles and its analysis in context. The addition of SistemRNA to the drug discovery toolbox can support strategic decision-making at key stages and maximise asset value.

Verna McErlane added: “The people we met in both countries were very welcoming and interested in innovative tools that can help them in their work. We are following up with a number of companies and planning return visits in June and September.”

For more information about Sistemic and it's products and services, visit: www.sistemic.co.uk

FibromEd and Sistemic are engaged in a collaborative project to identify important micro RNA signatures, required for high fidelity human hepatocyte generation from pluripotent stem cells.

FibromEd and Sistemic (www.sistemic.co.uk) are engaged in a collaborative project to identify important microRNA (miRNA) signatures, required for high fidelity human hepatocyte generation from pluripotent stem cells.  The project is funded by the Scottish Stem Cell Network.

Please contact either Dr David Hay (david.hay@fibromed.co.uk) or Dr Verna McErlane (verna.mcerlane@sistemic.co.uk)  if you require more details.

Rapid growth continues for Sistemic

"ON TOP OF THE WORLD"

12 January 2012: Sistemic, UK:  Sistemic, the stem cell and drug development technology company, has won a substantial Scottish Regional Selective Assistance (RSA) grant from Scottish Enterprise. The grant forms part of a £1M planned investment programme which, on the back of a very successful year for the company, will see Sistemic more than double the size of its operation. To accommodate the expanded  research team, the company is relocating to customised laboratories during the first half of 2012.

Jim Reid, Sistemic ‘s Chairman and CEO said, “Securing this support from Scottish Enterprise is a major achievement and shows great support by the Scottish Government for what we are doing. It adds to an already successful year for Sistemic, a year which has seen us grow sales dramatically and develop our customer base in Europe, USA, Japan and Australia. We truly have become a global company during 2011 and we look forward to relocating in the first half of 2012 to allow this success and growth to continue. It is always an exciting opportunity to be on the lookout for new employees and we are ideally placed to recruit top talent. This type of grant support is crucial to help grow successful research focused biotech companies such as ours and we will ensure we make the most of it!”

“We work very closely with some of the world’s leading stem cell and pharmaceutical companies and we need to continually review our operations to make sure that we have the best technology and services and we need a facility which suits our needs,” explains Reid. “The world is waking-up to the incredible opportunities offered by stem cell technology. Opportunities which show great promise to prolong healthy life and Sistemic is already a key part of this burgeoning worldwide industry.”

Sistemic‘s SistemRNA™, SistemQC™, SistemKB™  and SistemTOX™ products have brought new depth to miRNA analysis, which has been shown to add value to drug discovery, cell therapeutics and diagnostics.  For 2012 the company looks forward to increased business and growing their client network around the world.

For further information on Sistemic and Sistemic miRNA analysis products, please visit: www.sistemic.co.uk

Regional Selective Assistance (RSA) is the main investment grant scheme in areas of Scotland designated for regional aid under European Community law. RSA funding is available to create or safeguard jobs for both Scottish owned businesses and inward investors. For further information visit the Scottish Development International website: http://www.sdi.co.uk/

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