(Source: PrimeNewswire)SUNNYVALE, Calif., Sept. 15, 2009 (GLOBE NEWSWIRE) -- Symyx Technologies, Inc. (Nasdaq:SMMX) today announced it has joined SAFE-BioPharma Association, a non-profit association that created and manages the SAFE-BioPharma digital identity and signature standard for the pharmaceutical and healthcare industries. The membership enables Symyx to implement the SAFE-BioPharma(r) digital signature standard for records signing to safe-guard critical scientific data. The membership also enables Symyx to participate in SAFE-BioPharma working groups to further secure the electronic laboratory environment.

Symyx customers can utilize SAFE-BioPharma digital signature within Symyx Notebook, an enterprise electronic lab notebook (ELN) that supports multiple scientific disciplines including biology, chemistry, formulations development, and analytical laboratories where protecting intellectual property, avoiding patent interference, and satisfying regulatory agency submissions are critical activities.

"Applying a SAFE-BioPharma digital signature to mission-critical documents establishes a robust and defensible record of invention for R&D companies needing to protect and defend their IP," said Mollie Shields-Uehling, president and CEO, SAFE-BioPharma Association. "Our industry-standard protocol helps mitigate the legal, regulatory and business risks associated with electronic transactions, while facilitating interoperability between disparate information systems."

Symyx Notebook enables scientists to plan, execute and analyze experiments across the spectrum of research, development and analytical QC labs while providing data and document workflow transparency to life sciences and chemicals businesses. Symyx Notebook experimental entries provide key documentation for the intellectual properties of Symyx's pharmaceutical and biotechnology customers, establishing the date of record for invention which is vital to patent claims and patent defense litigation. The Symyx Notebook platform also enables scientists to connect with their existing laboratory instrumentation and software tools to gain compliance protection without redeveloping operational business practices.

"By aligning ourselves with SAFE-BioPharma, an integral industry association led by major pharmaceutical companies such as Pfizer, Eli Lilly and AstraZeneca, Symyx continues to ensure that sensitive intellectual property is securely captured and managed in the way our customers expect," said Dr. Trevor Heritage, president of Symyx's software business unit.

About Symyx

Symyx Technologies, Inc.