New analytical method to predict drug efficacy published

A recently published scientific paper in Analytical Chemistry, based on a project including multiple partners, has suggested improved predictions of drug efficacy based on a new analytical method of cell-based experiments.

The project — ‘Predictive Analysis and Purification of Biological drugs for faster drug development’ (PARB) — included Attana and the universities of Karlstad and Helsinki and concluded last year (2017). It was aimed at providing new analytical tools to more accurately and easily describe the complexity of interactions between drug molecules and their receptors in the body. Through this, it is hoped that improved predictability of drug efficacy will be possible prior to animal and clinical testing.

Parts of the project results, demonstrating how interactions between drug molecules and their cell membrane bound receptors are complex and heterogeneous, have now been accepted for publication in Analytical Chemistry. This heterogeneity may potentially affect drug efficacy.

In the next few years, Attana will employ the mathematical algorithm described in the published paper to calculate and visualise the heterogeneity of interactions for internal projects, in the continuation project Quality Control and Purification of New Biological Pharmaceuticals and with selected customers to develop a standardised analytical software for applications within drug development within five years.