For Wave Biotech, "Invitrogen's commitment to making itsproducts readily accessible to our customers, and its knowledge of thespecialized needs of research and bioproduction customers were key factors inour selection of Invitrogen as our partner," states Daniella Kranjac, vicepresident, sales and marketing.
WaveBiotech and Invitrogen are a study in contrasts, with the former focused on theline of patented disposable bioreactors developed by company founder VijaySingh. Because key products, such as the Wave bioreactors, mixers, and steriletube fusers feature disposable contact materials that eliminate cleaning andvalidation, they reduce costs in operations ranging from cell culture, mediapreparation, and buffer dissolution to patient-specific cell therapy inhospitals. The company notes that these unique devices can be installed andcommissioned rapidly, thereby significantly reducing the time-to-market forbiological products.
According to a company spokesman, Wave is "growing by leapsand bounds," which is attested to by its move from a rented 15,000 sq. ft.facility to its own 80,000 sq. ft. headquarters in late 2005. About the sametime, the company established its first European site in Cork, Ireland. Though a different sort of business, Invitrogen isalso growth oriented. Nicole Brockway points out that Invitrogen has acquired 16companies over the past four years and announced "dozens and dozens" of collaborations.
