Highlights

The WCBP 2023 conference was held January 24–26, 2023, at The Mayflower Hotel in Washington, DC.

The theme for this year’s meeting was “Diverse Collaborations for Global Innovation,” centering on the idea of individuals with different perspectives working together to drive innovation around the globe.

At the conference, SCIEX announced the launch of the Fast Glycan Labeling and Analysis kit for quantitative glycan analysis and a new version of Biologics Explorer software that adds middle-down analysis of protein therapeutics.

The Fast Glycan Labeling and Analysis kit enables fast glycan heterogeneity characterization and identification using a built glycan library. It delivers consistent, accurate results. This workflow is now compatible with the BioPhase 8800 system, which is the only multi-capillary system capable of processing up to eight samples simultaneously by capillary electrophoresis sodium dodecyl sulfate (CE-SDS), capillary isoelectric focusing (cIEF) and now glycan separation. This capability enables a step that is critical in drug development: monitoring changes in glycan composition or concentration that can significantly impact the overall efficacy and safety of a biotherapeutic.

Access the FAST GLYCAN LABELING AND ANALYSIS TECHNOLOGY brochure here>

Biologics Explorer software allows scientists to harness the full potential of the rich spectra produced from the ZenoTOF 7600 system. The release of Biologics Explorer software 3.0 enables streamlined middle-down protein analysis in combination with electron activated dissociation (EAD) fragmentation to yield high sequence coverage and provide better insight into the important modification sites of the protein. Data are easily translated to support quick and confident decisions about the most important critical quality attributes for biopharmaceuticals.

SCIEX also presented a technical luncheon seminar at the conference, “Unifying characterization strategies for novel protein and gene therapy products” led by our esteemed colleague David Colquhoun, Biologics Workflow Specialist.

Customer Talk, We Listen

In December 2022, a call went out for Innovation Advisory Board members to take part in a discussion group with their peers about Digitalization 4.0. There was a lot of interest, and two sessions were held in late January 2023 that involved nine leaders from their respective fields. The group consisted of principal investigators, directors and CEOs.

The discussion focused on Digitalization 4.0 and what that means for participants’ organizations.

Digitalization 4.0 is broadly defined as:

1. The process of using digital technologies to create or modify business processes, organizational culture and customer experiences to meet changing business and market requirements
2. The integration of digital technologies into all areas of a business, resulting in a fundamental change in how the business operates and delivers value to customers and a cultural change that requires continual challenges to the status quo

According to participants in the discussion, digitalization in their organizations was largely being driven by the need for more efficiency to increase competitiveness. There was clear recognition of the need for more advanced software to facilitate this transition. Further, digitalization in these organizations appears to be focused on four main themes:

1. 1. Remote access to systems
   2. Software integration and ease of learning
   3. Cloud solutions for enhanced data storage
   4. Automation of processes

Enabling remote access to systems for a hybrid and global workforce requires software solutions for remote control, monitoring and processing of data.

The need to integrate multiple software products into one that is easy to learn acknowledges a skilled labor shortage and high turnover rate for a workforce that needs to be trained as quickly as possible.

While the use of cloud solutions for enhanced data storage was not yet universal among participants’ organizations, it was already implemented in some and being considered by the rest, indicating a clear trend toward its use.

And lastly, participants identified automation—along the entire process, from sample intake to data processing and reporting—as critical to achieving efficiency gains in their organizations. Tied to this desire for automation was a keen interest in the role artificial intelligence will play in digitalization transformation.

We wish to thank the participants for their highly thoughtful and insightful discussions.

Featured Article

Never underestimate the power of a shoe: SCIEX OS software 3.0 stories

Back in July 2022, SCIEX presented a sneaker giveaway contest. Customers who told us about their experiences working with SCIEX OS software and shared their stories about how SCIEX OS software has helped their lab #RunMore had a chance to win a pair of limited edition, custom SCIEX OS software trainers.

Here are some of the stories from our winners

One of our winners, Aleš Kvasnička uses SCIEX OS software in his work as part of the Clinical Mass Spec Group at the Laboratory for Inherited Metabolic Disorders—part of the Department of Clinical Biochemistry at Fakultní nemocnice Olomouc (University Hospital Olomouc) and Univerzita Palackého v Olomouci (Palacky University).

“In our laboratory, we use SCIEX OS software to process data from our targeted metabolomics and lipidomics analyses. It helps us with method development and also with data evaluation from large cohort projects. In addition, we  use it for routine analysis of patient samples-for example, for the determination of urinary organic acids in patients with suspected inherited metabolic disorders. It is therefore an essential piece of software without which our laboratory could not function as smoothly and efficiently.”

Christopher Nortcliffe of Sterling Pharma Solutions, one of our other SCIEX OS sneaker giveaway winners shared how SCIEX OS software helps his lab.

“We run a walk-up instrument doing in-process tests on ADCs. It’s so easy for all my team to put on their own samples and process their data without confusing menus. Training new staff is super easy, and all our methods are locked so I don’t have to worry about users changing settings. It really streamlines our workflows on our X500B QTOF system!

Another #SCIEXOS software sneaker contest winner, Onur Senol from Atatürk University, who is seen sporting his new limited-edition, custom SCIEX OS software tennis shoes. Here is a little bit about how Onur and his lab use SCIEX OS software.

“We devote our life to the Greek god Thantanos and to doing thantanomics (i.e., metabolomics on dead people). We are looking at the changes of small molecules of dead people via SCIEX OS software.”

Thank you to all who participated in our sneaker giveaway. We really loved hearing all about how SCIEX OS software has helped your lab, and we enjoyed all the great photos of you sporting our shoes! After all, good shoes take you to good places, and if the shoe fits, you can #RunMore!

Not yet a member of the SCIEX OS Software Advisory Board? 

Does early involvement in new software capabilities interest you?  If any of the following applies to you, please consider joining the SCIEX OS Software Advisory Board to help shape the next generation of software: 

• You use mass spectrometry software from SCIEX for acquisition and/or data processing with either accurate or nominal mass data 
• You are proficient in acquisition method development, building batches or data review and processing 
• You are familiar with mass spectrometer acquisition and processing software other than SCIEX software 

-AND-

• You can participate in monthly interviews or concept evaluations—lasting 60–90 minutes (about 1½ hours)—via telephone or video conference  
• You are open to evaluating next-generation beta software over a 2-week period (setup and orientation included) 

Join the SCIEX OS Software Advisory Board

Please do not hesitate to contact us at  innovation@sciex.com if you have any questions about the program.  

The Innovation Advisory Board team at SCIEX 

Study Results

Understanding what Quality means to YOU

Quality is a core driver at SCIEX. Fundamentally, quality products enable success in the work you do. In this study, our aim was to dive deeper into what quality means to you. Significantly, the research captured the top messages that define your idea of quality. Below are the key findings of the study.

Tips and Tricks

#1 Fill style for chromatograms: SCIEX OS software now supports multiple fill styles for the integrated portion of a chromatogram in the Peak Review pane in the Analytics workspace. The options are solid fill, dotted fill or no fill.

#2 Sorting of data files when processing new results, editing embedded methods or adding samples to an existing results table: Did you know that in SCIEX OS software, you can sort data files alphabetically or according to acquisition time? When processing new results, editing the embedded processing method or adding samples to an existing results table, data files can be arranged alphabetically or according to the acquisition time of the last sample in the data file.

#3 Support for significant figures: Did you know that SCIEX OS software now supports significant figures in the Analytics workspace? The display of numeric columns in a results table can now be formatted with a specified number of significant figures according to the precision number selected, in addition to scientific notation or a specified number of digits after decimal points.

#4 Exporting results to a .txt file with the same format as the results table: Did you know that SCIEX OS software now supports exporting statistics results to a .txt file? Export of all results or a selection of combinations between sample groupings and actual parameters is supported and produces an individual .txt file for each combination.

#4 Central Administration Console: SCIEX OS software now has its own Central Administration Console that makes the manual configuration of security on individual workstations a thing of the past. This new feature enables complete and centralized control of all acquisition and processing computers and workgroups across all your systems running SCIEX OS software 3.0. Regulated workflows can support compliance standards with built-in comprehensive audit trail features. The connectivity of the Central Administration Console brings a new level of efficiency, productivity and security to your lab’s SCIEX software ecosystem.

For more tips and tricks, check out the tips and tricks posted each week on the IAB member website!