Consumable disc device combining microscale fluid paths, reaction chambers, and passive valves, tested in early access programme at five major pharma firms
Tecan says that it has received detailed test results from its early access programmes for the LabCD system.
This system, which includes a consumable microfluidic disc that combines microscale fluid paths, reaction chambers, and passive valves, reduces the time and cost of drug development by allowing researchers to obtain critical information much earlier in the drug discovery process.
The early access programme, which targets applications for Admet (adsorption, distribution, metabolism, excretion, and toxicity) assays, is being carried out in collaboration with five leading pharmaceutical companies - Boehringer Ingelheim, Hoffmann La Roche, Wyeth, and two as yet undisclosed partners.
The early access programme was designed to test the performance of the LabCD for cytochrome P450 inhibition and serum protein binding assays at customer sites.
These assays constitute an important step in determining the suitability of lead compounds or molecules as potential drug candidates.
Feedback from the test sites confirmed the quality and ease-of-use of the LabCD system. The LabCD effectively performed cytochrome P450 inhibition assays for multiple isoenzymes.
For model inhibitor compounds, the LabCD provided good correlation between in vitro IC50 values obtained at company sites and at Tecan laboratories.
IC50, a standard measurement used in enzyme studies, is the concentration of inhibitor that decreases enzyme activity by 50%.
Participants in the programmes commented on the significant savings in reagents and compound consumption for fluorescence measurements, and appreciated both the integrated nature of the systems and the possibility of real-time data analysis.
In contrast to conventional microplate-based methods, the LabCD can deliver multiple data measurements at the same time for individual samples.
Evaluations of serum protein binding, another important parameter in drug development, are scheduled for completion by the end of July 2002.
Based upon the considerable interest generated by the LabCD, the early access programme is being extended to provide a technology access programme.
In this, participants will have the opportunity to investigate different drug discovery applications on a fee-paying basis.
With the test results from the early access programme more than matching Tecan's expectations, the company will now proceed with the final stages of making the LabCD available as a commercial platform for Admet assays.
The planned launch in August of the first LabCD platform products should position Tecan to effectively address the estimated $250 million Admet market with fully integrated, miniaturised, validated solutions.
