Assay Depot Partners with AstraZeneca to Launch Virtual Research Laboratory

Cloud-based software empowers drug researchers and promotes innovation

Assay Depot Partners with AstraZeneca to Launch Virtual Research Laboratory

Assay Depot Inc.Kim Richards, 619-708-4430

today announced the launch of a virtual research laboratory. Developed in partnership with , the virtual laboratory is a powerful vendor relationship management (VRM) system that gives researchers easy access to a distributed network of thousands of research service providers located inside and outside the company.

"We brought together features of today's favorite consumer websites to create a virtual laboratory that empowers scientists," stated Kevin Lustig, Assay Depot's CEO. "A small group of talented scientists can now run an entire drug discovery program, from concept to clinic, from a laptop computer."

The private virtual laboratory (aka Research Exchange) enables researchers to search for research services and vendors, communicate with experts, purchase services, and rate and review services. In one simple and intuitive interface, scientists identify experts, initiate research collaborations, and track entire projects to completion.

Researchers can access the virtual laboratory from anywhere they access the Internet, including tablets and mobile devices. They can view their colleagues' ratings and reviews, view past transactions and determine at a glance which vendors have current legal agreements.

"The virtual drug discovery era has arrived," said Chris Petersen, Assay Depot's CIO. "Enabling research scientists to access any service and any expert in just a few mouse clicks can dramatically improve productivity, reduce costs and promote innovation."

A private virtual laboratory enables complete transparency across global research operations while retaining local control over research sourcing decisions. It simplifies legal and compliance verification, standardizes sourcing governance and serves as a versatile all-in-one platform that benefits the entire chain of pharmaceutical stakeholders, including discovery research, supply chain and consumer health.

"By connecting our internal and external science, the virtual laboratory platform is creating a new approach for our scientists to run experiments with an optimal balance of speed, quality, and cost. We look forward to assessing how the virtual laboratory platform impacts and accelerates productivity in the R&D pipeline," said Mike Snowden, Vice President, Discovery Sciences, AstraZeneca.

Assay Depot operates a network of cloud-based Research Exchanges that empower scientists. By dramatically streamlining purchases between pharmaceutical companies and more than 7,000 global research suppliers, Assay Depot is changing the way drug discovery is done. To learn more about Assay Depot's enterprise software, visit . To use our free public virtual laboratory, visit .

AstraZeneca is a global, innovation-driven biopharmaceutical business with a primary focus on the discovery, development and commercialization of prescription medicines for gastrointestinal, cardiovascular, neuroscience, respiratory and inflammation, oncology and infectious disease. AstraZeneca operates in over 100 countries and its innovative medicines are used by millions of patients worldwide. For more information please visit: .