Zeneca Installs Trident Synthesizer Systems

Zeneca Pharmaceuticals has installed and completed acceptance testing for the first of two Trident Automated Library Synthesizer Systems from Argonaut Technologies. One of the Trident systems will be used by Zeneca's lead discovery group and the other one by a medicinal chemistry group for lead optimization. The use of the same synthesis platform by both groups will facilitate collaboration between the groups and promote continuity between the lead generation and lead optimization stages of discovery research.

An increasing number of traditional medicinal chemists at Zeneca are interested in exploring the use of automation, according to Dr. Michael Klimas, group leader/project manager at Zeneca. The need to support these chemists, located at multiple sites, required a synthesizer system that is easy to use and support. "Trident software is intuitive and will help our medicinal chemists to be more self-sufficient when it comes to using automation," he said. "Because Trident runs unattended, and can operate at night and on weekends, it frees up chemists to perform other, more intellectually challenging objectives."

Trident performs both solution- and solid-phase synthesis of up to 192 compounds in four unique Reaction Cassettes, each holding 48 glass reaction vessels. Trident completely automates temperature and agitation control and accurate reagent and solvent delivery, while maintaining an inert environment throughout the system. A manual reagent/solvent delivery tool and off-line Agitation-Thermal Units expand the Trident system for higher throughput or can be used separately, with a Reaction Cassette, for optimizing chemistry or making smaller libraries.

For more information: Argonaut Technologies, 887 Industrial Road, Suite G, San Carlos, CA 94070, USA. Telephone: 650-598-1350 or 888-598-1350. Fax: 650-598-1359.