MDS Analytical Technologies

MDS Analytical Technologies, one of three business units that makes up MDS Inc., is a global leader focused on the research, design, manufacture and marketing of state-of-the-art solutions for mass spectrometry, drug discovery and bioresearch. These solutions, which are sold to researchers or scientists around the world at pharmaceutical companies, contract research laboratories, academic and medical institutions, and health and life sciences organizations, are designed to help accelerate the complex process of discovering and developing new drug compounds, understanding the causes of disease, and protecting the safety of food, water and the environment.  

MDS Analytical Technologies, which competes in an estimated US$6 billion market, researches, designs and produces mass spectrometers, highly sophisticated and sensitive measurement tools. These mass spectrometers are so sensitive they can detect a pinch of salt in a body of water equal to 12 Olympic-sized swimming pools. These instruments, which include the AB SCIEX Triple Quad™ 5500 and the AB SCIEX QTRAP® 5500, two of the most advanced mass-spectrometry systems ever built, are being used increasingly as more companies shift to targeted drug development programs.

The mass-spectrometer product lines are sold globally through joint ventures with two of the world's leading analytical instrumentation and life sciences companies. In the joint venture with Applied Biosystems, Inc. (now part of Life Technologies), MDS Analytical Technologies supplies mass-spectrometer-based products for use in drug discovery and development, and uncovering the causes of human disease. The major customers are contract research organizations, and pharmaceutical and biotechnology companies around the world. In the joint venture with PerkinElmer, Inc., MDS Analytical Technologies supplies mass-spectrometer-based products for use in the semi-conductor industry, geological and clinical diagnostics, and environmental protection testing.

MDS Analytical Technologies, following its acquisition of Molecular Devices in 2007, is also one of the world's leading producers of high-performance bioanalytical measurement systems for high-throughput screening, genomic and cellular analysis, and microplate detection. These leading-edge products enable customers to improve research productivity and effectiveness which ultimately accelerates the complex process of discovering and developing new drug compounds.
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FACTS

In 2008, MDS Analytical Technologies spent $73 million on research and development, and launched 10 new products and services.

Innovative new products – such as MDS Analytical Technologies' Analyst® 1.5 software for mass-spectrometry systems, iMethod™ for Cliquid® software for food-and-beverage testing, and LightSight™ automated metabolite identification method creation software – provided enormous opportunity to capture share of the growing applied markets.

MDS Analytical Technologies plans continued investment in a more focused product development pipeline, with an emphasis on software and innovative enhancements that offer cost-effective, quality solutions to clients.

MDS Analytical Technologies will install new LeanSigma-based protocols in its product concept and design process to more effectively bring new products to market faster, and with better quality.