The group's principal activtity is to develop drug and gene delivery systems that uses electroporation therapy (ept) to deliver drugs and genes into cells. Ept is the application of brief, pulsed electric fields to cells, which causes tiny pores to temporarily open in the cell membrane. The group operates through two divisions: the drug and gene delivery division and the btx instrument division. The drug and gene delivery division develops drug delivery systems that are designed to use ept to enhance drug or gene delivery in the areas of oncology and gene therapy. The btx instrument division develops manufactures, and markets electroporation instrumentation and accessories used by scientists and researchers to perform genetic engineering techniques. The group sells the majority of its btx products to customers in the United States, Europe, and east Asia. Btx instrument division accounted for 96% of 2001 revenues and drug and gene delivery division 4%.
