SPT Labtech and Synthace partner to accelerate drug discovery through accessible DOE

Cambridge, UK, Boston, USA, and London, UK, 5 September 2024 – SPT Labtech, a global leader in the design, development and manufacture of automated instrumentation and consumables for life science applications, and Synthace, the leading digital experiment platform for life science R&D teams, have announced a strategic collaboration to enhance the accessibility and effectiveness of Design of Experiments (DOE) in the life sciences community. This partnership combines the power of DOE with automated liquid handling to accelerate drug discovery and development timelines, improve experimental outcomes and optimize the use of budgets and resources.

DOE is transforming how scientists conduct experiments by allowing them to assess multiple factors simultaneously, replacing traditional one-factor-at-a-time methods. This approach facilitates faster, data-driven decisions and enhances assay robustness. 

The Synthace platform translates complex DOE designs into precise automation instructions for assay optimization. This capability seamlessly integrates with SPT Labtech’s dragonfly^® discovery automated reagent dispenser, enabling high-speed, precise setup of complex plate-based assays. dragonfly discovery utilizes true positive displacement technology, ensuring superior low-volume dispense performance across all liquids, including solvents, buffers, and cell suspensions, without the need for complex configuration. Its non-contact dispensing capabilities further enhance operational efficiency while significantly reducing the volume of required plastics consumables.

Combining the speed and accuracy of SPT Labtech’s dragonfly discovery dispenser with the flexible planning and data aggregation capabilities of Synthace has been shown to deliver substantial time savings and tips usage, as demonstrated by the data in this case study. 

"By bringing together the power of automated liquid handling and advanced digital experiment design, our partnership with Synthace exemplifies how these technologies are truly better together. This collaboration underscores our commitment to providing the life sciences community with the integrated tools they need to optimize workflows and unlock vital new breakthroughs. We’re excited to see how researchers will leverage this technology to push the boundaries of what’s possible in their work,” says Joby Jenkins, Chief Technology Officer at SPT Labtech. 

“Ever since we first integrated the dragonfly with Synthace, we’ve been blown away by the science that these two technologies have enabled. Together, they’ve helped make immensely powerful experiments possible, delivering clear results, even in the face of huge biological complexity. That’s why we’re really excited to work more closely with SPT Labtech. We want to bring this caliber of experiment to as many drug discovery scientists as possible - and ultimately, help them get more effective therapies to patients, faster,” said Markus Gershater, Co-Founder and Chief Scientific Officer at Synthace.