Servier Integrates Definiens Technology in Translational Research

Munich / Neuilly-sur-Seine, France – April 15th,2008 – Servier, a leading French pharmaceutical company, decided to install Definiens technology in its two core Discovery Research facilities located in Suresnes and Croissy-sur-Seine. Preceded by several successful test projects, this strategic decision was made internally in fall 2007. Servier expects that the enterprise-wide integration of Definiens image analysis software will play a key role within the organization’s various research departments. Definiens offers a clear advantage for pharmaceutical companies because its software automates image analysis processes and leads to more objective results compared to manual approaches.

Predictive preclinical models of human pathologies are of central importance
Servier is particularly well-known for its commitment to research and development (R&D). During the last ten years, nearly 25% of Servier’s turnover has been invested in R&D. All Servier drugs currently produced were developed by Servier's internal R&D team. In order to assess the value of a drug candidate as early as possible, predictive preclinical models of human pathologies are crucial. Here, automated molecular pathology-based technologies are the key to success, as these approaches provide a greater understanding of the quantitative expression of targets and biomarkers relevant to pathogenic processes. However, those technologies can achieve their full potential only in combination with intelligent image analysis technologies as provided by Definiens. Brian Lockhart, Director of Servier’s Division Molecular Pharmacology and Pathophysiology: “In order to put molecular histopathology at the core of Servier’s drug discovery programs, the decision to integrate Definiens’ innovative and robust Definiens Enterprise Image Intelligence™ Suite is a critical step in the success of this strategy.”

Definiens provides a flexible and future-proof technology
The Definiens Enterprise Image Intelligence Suite will be installed at the core Discovery Research facilities at Suresnes, and at Croissy-sur-Seine, 2 research centers specialized in brain disease, cardiovascular, neuropsychopharmacology, and oncology. This clearly underlines the diversity, openness and flexibility of the Definiens platform. “The integration of Definiens as an enterprise wide image analysis platform will have beneficial effects for all researchers at Servier”, said René Hermes, Vice President of Marketing at Definiens.

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About Servier
Servier is the leading independent French pharmaceutical company, established in 1954 by its founder, Jacques Servier, M.D., Pharm.D. The group is established in 140 countries and 82% of Servier products are prescribed out of France. Sales turnover in 2007 rose to 3.5 billion euros. Almost 25% of Servier's turnover is invested in Research and Development. The Servier Group counts 19 International Centers of Therapeutic Research, and its principal therapeutic research orientations are cardiovascular diseases, diabetes, neuropsychiatric disorders, cancer, and osteoarticular diseases. More information is available at: www.servier.com.

Definiens in Life Sciences
By automating image analysis on an enterprise level, Definiens supports Life Science organizations to analyze and interpret vast numbers of images accurately and consistently. Definiens improves the measurement of cell assays, the examination of tissue samples and the interpretation of non-invasive imaging, enabling high-content screening, digital pathology and translational medicine.

About Definiens
Definiens is the number one Enterprise Image Intelligence company for analyzing and interpreting images on every scale, from microscopic cell structures to satellite images. The Definiens Cognition Network Technology®, developed by Nobel laureate Prof. Gerd Binnig and his team, is an advanced and robust context-based technology designed to fulfill the image analysis requirements of the Life and Earth sciences markets. The technology is modeled on the powerful human cognitive perception processes to extract intelligence from images. Definiens provides organizations with faster image analysis results, allowing deeper insights enabling better business decisions. The company is headquartered in Munich, Germany and has offices throughout the United States. Further information is available at www.definiens.com.

Definiens, Definiens Cellenger, Definiens Cognition Network Technology, Definiens eCognition, Enterprise Image Intelligence and Understanding Images are trademarks or registered trademarks of Definiens.

This release was published on openPR.