Thermo Fisher Launches New Mass Spectrometry and Chromatography Solutions

Thermo Fisher Scientific has launched its new mass spectrometry (MS) instruments, workflows, and software, which the company is showcasing at the 69th American Society for Mass Spectrometry (ASMS) Conference on Mass Spectrometry and Allied Topics, held on Oct. 31–Nov. 4, 2021, in Philadelphia, Penn.

The Thermo Scientific Orbitrap Exploris MX mass detector allows biopharmaceutical laboratories to implement multi-attribute method (MAM) and perform intact analysis of monoclonal antibodies, conduct oligonucleotide mass determination, and carry out peptide mapping. The new system simplifies the transition of biotherapeutics from development to manufacturing and enables quality control (QC) customers to use the same method established earlier in a molecule's journey to commercialization, which accelerates the biopharma pipeline, the company stated in a Nov. 1, 2021 press release.

Labs can also benefit from reduced downtime, maintenance, and seamless method transfers, which further enhances efficiency. The new MS system also offers enhanced data quality, which can deliver high-confidence results even for users with limited mass spectrometric experience.

The Thermo Scientific MAM 2.0 workflow is designed to streamline biopharmaceutical characterization, process monitoring, and release testing by replacing multiple traditional assays with one comprehensive analysis that delivers insights on multiple critical product quality attributes. MAM 2.0 includes training, on-going support, and partnership that are required for enhancing laboratory analytical workflows across R&D, manufacturing, and QC environments. The new workflow enables the use of the same platform throughout an entire process, which allows for seamless transfer of data and knowledge across teams and departments. This capability removes bottlenecks often seen by organizations moving therapeutics from development to manufacturing, Themo Fisher stated in the press release.

The company’s offering for proteomic researchers is a combination of Thermo Scientific Proteome Discoverer 3.0 software and CHIMERYS, a cloud-native search algorithm for peptide identification by MSAID, a privately held informatics spin-off company from the chair of Proteomics and Bioanalytics at the Technical University of Munich, Germany. This offering will increase researchers’ ability to identify peptides and proteins and allow for a wider and deeper understanding of biological systems. The new system leverages artificial intelligence to reimagine the analysis of tandem mass spectra, which increases peptide coverage and quantitation capabilities.

The Thermo Scientific Compound Discoverer 3.3 software offers an enhanced peak detection algorithm and improved peak quality rating, which can provide scientists performing small-molecule analysis in metabolomics, environmental, food safety, clinical, and forensics laboratories much faster and more sensitive compound detection.

The Thermo Scientific BioPharma Finder 5.0 software increases analytical throughput and confidence through built-for-purpose data processing, curation, and customizable reporting, which are expected to create new capabilities for biotherapeutic workflows. Operating in a secure environment, the new software enables global collaboration and can be used across multiple application workflows, such as peptide mapping analysis, oligonucleotide analysis, intact mass analysis, and top-down analysis.

Finally, the Thermo Scientific LipidSearch 5.0 software has been upgraded to now support direct infusion workflows. The software features an extensive database of 1.5 million lipids, enabling real time monitoring in addition to more accurate lipid quantitation.

"The life science industry has stepped forward in an unprecedented fashion over the last 18 months, with academia and biopharma making key contributions to respond to the pandemic," said Dan Shine, senior vice-president and president, Analytical Instruments, Thermo Fisher Scientific, in the company press release. "We're honored to have played an essential role in this effort. The new instruments, software, and workflows that we're unveiling today will further support innovation across proteomics, biopharmaceutical characterization, and data acquisition while also ensuring that scientists can continue their critical ongoing research."

Source: Thermo Fisher Scientific