A S T E R A N D

A dramatically high failure rate of clinical drug trials (>90%) continues to plague the pharmaceutical industry, making it even more critical to find new, efficient ways to evaluate potential drug candidates. The proprietary BioMAP® Systems are integrated, primary cell-based models designed to predict clinical activities of potential drug candidates at the earliest stages of development. The systems allow pharmaceutical and biotechnology companies to receive rapid input regarding the mechanism of action, efficacy and side effect profiles of compounds to guide lead selection and compound optimization programs. (full story)

Asterand Offers Good Laboratory Practices (GLP) Compliant Preclinical Services

First Offering: Tissue Cross Reactivity Testing of Biologics to meet
FDA and EMEA Requirements

With the acceptance of its Royston facility into the U.K. GLP Compliance Programme in February, Asterand launched Good Laboratory Practice (GLP) compliant preclinical services to its pharmaceutical and biotech clients. Asterand's initial GLP compliant offering is tissue cross reactivity testing for biologics. Such studies are required by the Food & Drug Administration (FDA) and the European Medicines Agency (EMEA) as part of the safety package supporting clinical development of therapeutic antibodies. This significant addition to our PhaseZERO^® service offering positions Asterand as one of the most comprehensive human tissue research service organizations worldwide.
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Dorsal Root Ganglia (DRGs) to accelerate chronic pain research

Now Offered as Part of Asterand's XpressBANK^TM Biorepository

Each year, 1.4 million people are diagnosed with chronic neuropathic pain related to the peripheral nervous system. The growing demand for effective, non-addictive therapies to reduce or remedy this chronic pain has resulted in an estimated $1.5 billion spent on therapies, yet many patients continue to suffer from neuropathic pain, or side effects related to current therapies.

The solution may reside in Dorsal Root Ganglia (DRGs), the primary structures which detect and communicate pain associated with organ and tissue damage to the central nervous system. The small and sensitive nature of DRGs makes the structures difficult to procure, but Asterand scientists were determined to solve this access issue. (full story)

Opinion Leaders Discuss Role of Human Tissue Models in Cancer Research at Asterand's Inaugural Human Tissue Conference

More than 60 academic, government and pharmaceutical scientists shared insights and exchanged information on the latest innovations in human tissue models and cancer research recently as part of Asterand's inaugural Human Tissue Research Conference (HTRC 2010). The conference, entitled, “Understanding Cancer Through Human Tissue-based Models," was held in Washington D.C., on April 14-15, directly preceding the 101st Annual Meeting of the American Association of Cancer Researchers. (full story)