Protein Chromatography in Transition
A New Report From Biocompare, Inc. Finds That Protein Chromatography Must Innovate for Clinical Proteomics Applications
SOUTH SAN FRANCISCO, CA -- (MARKET WIRE) -- August 9, 2006 -- A new report from Biocompare, Inc., "2006 Protein Chromatography Report," based on a survey of over 300 researchers, presents that researchers are primarily using affinity, gel filtration/size exclusion, and ion-exchange chromatography for analytical and preparative protein separation. Bacterial recombinant protein expression systems are the most popular in use, likely due to their ease of use and ability to be scaled up for large protein preps. HPLC systems are the most popular automated chromatography systems of both current and future users, consistent with both marketing data and the opinions of proteomics and protein expression expert, Dr. Irina Neverova.
"Researchers continue to use HPLC and reversed-phase and ion exchange chromatography," she says. The "use of size exclusion chromatography will probably decrease unless it can be miniaturized. Currently, affinity chromatography is attracting a lot of attention. It provides the type of high specificity and selectivity that researchers strive for."
Such inroads towards specificity and selectivity are in process; however, high resolution and sensitivity are important benchmarks that have not yet been achieved. Such standards are essential for molecular diagnostics, such as the detection of biomarkers in a complex protein mixture such as plasma. The protein chromatography market has continued to grow, notably in clinical and biomarker applications. The diverse selection of chromatographic techniques, such as capillary electrophoresis, HPLC, and ion-exchange, affinity, and two-dimensional chromatography, allows for significant advances in improvements and innovation that lead to higher sensitivities, specificities, and reproducibilities in protein separation. At present, protein chromatography products bring in revenues surpassing $150 million and are expected to top $237 million by 2010.
Niche separation products, such as chip-based microarrays and liquid chromatography/mass spectrometry hybrid systems, are growing at over 15% annually. Such products are the result of technological innovations that drive improvements in resolution, speed, and sensitivity, of utmost importance in the growing clinical proteomics arena.
Bio-Rad, while currently not a major player, was identified by future customers as the vendor of choice for most of their protein chromatography-related purchases. While advised to capitalize on this demonstration of consumer confidence, this company should listen carefully to what their future customers are asking for in the protein chromatography arena, such as targeted media for membrane and cytoskeletal/structural proteins, as well as improvements in chromatography software, temperature controls, and automation.
This report, "2006 Protein Chromatography Report," available from Biocompare, Inc., explores researchers' purchasing plans and research approaches in the area of protein chromatography and its applications. More information about this and other reports available from Biocompare can be found at: https://www.biocompare.com/research.
About Biocompare
Biocompare, Inc. (http://www.biocompare.com), headquartered in South San Francisco, California, is a global media company informing and connecting the buyers, users, and sellers of life science products. By combining an in-depth knowledge of life science products and new technologies with the power of the internet, Biocompare offers a dynamic, relevant, and innovative media-based marketplace for life science information.