Next-generation transcriptomic analysis in cancer vascular research 3 December 2015 | By Joseph Wragg (University of Birmingham), Roy Bicknell (University of Birmingham) Over the past decade significant advances have been made in the fields of genomic and transcriptomic profiling, inspired by the advent of next-generation sequencing (NGS). Yet despite the considerable promise of these new technologies, uptake has been slow. The focus of this review is the use of next-generation transcriptomic analysis…
Protein Expression: The growing potential of plant-made monoclonal antibodies 3 December 2015 | By Huafang Lai (Arizona State University), Qiang “Shawn” Chen (Arizona State University) The success story of Mapp Pharmaceuticals’ experimental drug, ZMapp, during last year’s Ebola outbreak highlights the potential of plant-made monoclonal antibodies (mAbs) as life-saving treatments.
Companion Diagnostics: Challenges in the development of pharmacist-based point-of-care tests 3 December 2015 | By Allison Dering-Anderson (University of Nebraska College of Pharmacy), Meagan Doyle (University of Nebraska College of Pharmacy) A 2010 overview article on companion diagnostics, compiled by authors Stephen Naylor and Toby Cole, commented on the need for the companion diagnostic to fit into the logistics of the testing laboratory. The intervening five years have shown that patients are demanding more rapid and more convenient testing for diagnosis,…
A bright future for molecular probes 24 September 2015 | By Rudi Marquez (University of Glasgow), Zuzana Flachbartova (University of Veterinary Medicine and Pharmacy in Kosice) The history of molecular probes can be traced back to 1871 with the synthesis of fluorescein by Adolf von Baeyer1. Through the simple combination of phthalic anhydride and resorcinol in the presence of zinc chloride, the dawn of a completely new era in chemistry and biology began...
Trends in contemporary microscopy 24 September 2015 | By Dimitri Scholz (University College Dublin), Jeremy Simpson (University College Dublin) In the biomedical arena the imaging of biological samples has long been a mainstay technology, not only furthering our understanding of fundamental biology, but also playing a key role in designing strategies and therapies to combat infection and disease...
Should LC-MS/MS proteomics guide targeted drug selection for cancer patients? 22 September 2015 | By David Britton (Barts Cancer Institute), Pedro Cutillas (Barts Cancer Institute) History has demonstrated that the use of companion in vitro diagnostic tests to select cancer patients positive for a drug target significantly improves response to targeted anti-cancer therapies...
Drug Target Review – Issue #3 2015 21 September 2015 | By Drug Target Review Included in this issue: Drug Development, Microfluidics, Proteomics, Ion Channels, GPCR, Imaging, Flow Cytometry, Enzymes
Proteomics In-Depth Focus 2015 21 September 2015 | By David Britton (Barts Cancer Institute), Manfred Raida (National University of Singapore), Pedro Cutillas (Barts Cancer Institute) In this Proteomics In-Depth Focus: David J. Britton & Pedro R. Cutillas from Barts Cancer Institute ask should LC-MS/MS proteomics guide targeted drug selection for cancer patients? And Manfred Raida from the National University of Singapore explains how mass spectrometry and drug development come together...
Imaging In-Depth Focus 2015 21 September 2015 | By Dimitri Scholz (University College Dublin), Grischa Chandy (Senior Product Marketing Manager at Molecular Devices LLC), Jeremy Simpson (University College Dublin), Rudi Marquez (University of Glasgow), Zuzana Flachbartova (University of Veterinary Medicine and Pharmacy in Kosice) In our Imaging In-Depth Focus: Dimitri Scholz and Jeremy C. Simpson from University College Dublin discuss trends in contemporary microscopy, Rudi Marquez and Zuzana Flachbartova share the bright future for molecular probes and Grischa Chandy from Molecular Devices LLC discusses changes and advantages with HCS microscopy...
When 0.77% is greater than 1%: salutatory lessons from the Court of Appeal 21 September 2015 | By Jacob Gifford Head (Thomas More Chambers) All new drugs rely, to a greater or lesser extent, on pre-existing research and development. Much of this pre-existing research will have resulted in patented methods and products. A major challenge for all researchers is therefore to develop new drugs which do not infringe other company’s patents.
Immunogenicity: anticipating and avoiding issues for biopharmaceutical development 21 September 2015 | By Paul Chamberlain (NDA Advisory Board) All biopharmaceutical products are associated with an intrinsic potential to induce immune responses in treated subjects. Regulatory agencies expect sponsors to evaluate and mitigate these risks during product development, applying a strategy that addresses product- and patient-related factors. Overall, understanding and controlling immunogenicity-related risks are attainable objectives, and approvability should…
Microfluidic technology: the next-generation drug discovery tool 21 September 2015 | By Kimberly Plevniak (Kansas State University), Mei He (Kansas State University) Microfluidic miniaturisation, or the so-called ‘lab-on-a-chip’ concept, now encroaches on the fields of biology, medicine and pharmacology, and the nature of microfluidic technology (small volumes and high-throughput integration of fluid connections) means that it is outperforming conventional bench work. There has been an incredible need for microfluidic technology in the…
Ion channels: Small molecules versus biologics – the quest for the ideal Nav1.7 inhibitor 21 September 2015 | By Martin Perkins (National Research Council of Canada), Marzia Martina (National Research Council of Canada) Ion channels modulate and control many fundamental physiological processes in various tissues and alterations in their functions give rise to a wide range of pathophysiologies, which makes them important drug targets. Indeed, for decades, drugs modulating ion channel activity have been targeted by the pharmaceutical industry. Historically, however, developing drugs…
Exploiting functional selectivity of GPCRs in drug development 21 September 2015 | By Niklas Larsson (AstraZeneca), Torben Østerlund (AstraZeneca) The large family of pharmaceutical targets represented by G-protein coupled receptors (GPCRs) are usually involved in a number of intracellular effector pathways, leading to many cellular outcomes. In recent years it has been uncovered that different ligands of a given GPCR may engage the pathways selectively, in that ligands that…
Flow cytometry: Not just a box in the lab 21 September 2015 | By Rachael Walker (Babraham Institute) Undoubtedly, you will have noticed the increase in the number of publications utilising flow cytometry, heard it mentioned more in meetings and probably even been targeted by several companies trying to sell you their latest cytometer. The rapidly advancing technology behind the cytometer and an increase in applications that use…
