Cambridge Viscosity has revealed that a Massachusetts-based bio-tech company specialising in therapies for neurological disorders is using small sample viscometers to reduce drug development time.
The company bought four Viscolab 5000 viscometers to measure the viscosity of proteins used in drug therapies.
The highly automated systems, which require very little maintenance, will also help the company achieve standardisation between its Massachusetts and California-based laboratories.
The biotech company selected the Cambridge viscometers because they are easy to use and require a very small sample size; only 75 microlitres of sample is needed to measure viscosity.
The ability to measure viscosity at the research-and-development stage allows researchers to reformulate or eliminate drug candidates early in the development process.
For example, if the concentration of protein in a solution is too high, its viscosity will be too high, rendering the drug not administrable to patients.
Measuring viscosity early on enables researchers to focus on effective therapies with higher concentrations of injectable drugs and lower viscosity levels, therapies that ultimately benefit patients by reducing swelling and increasing comfort.
The company's lead scientist said the Cambridge viscometers are easy to operate and provide accurate, repeatable results.
The spokesperson said: 'A technician can set up the test parameters and let it run through the sequence unattended.
'The viscosity information we receive allows us to look at viscosity early in the development cycle rather than at more advanced stages, potentially saving significant development time.
'The benefits of using viscosity as a screening tool are tremendous, and are now practical with the Viscolab 5000,' added the spokesperson.
